Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Jordan VanHemert - Deep in the Soil
by Paul Abella, WDCB, Chicago
When I looked at the lineup for saxophonist Jordan VanHemert's Deep in the Soil, I mumbled to myself, "Wow...somebody's got themselves a BAND here!" Terell Stafford plays trumpet, Michael Dease is the trombonist, Helen Sung is sitting at the piano bench, Rodney Whittaker is holding down the bass duties, and Lewis Nash is behind the drums. This sextet lets you know it, too, from the first note. Sharel Cassity's composition, "Call To Order" gets... read more
Richard Sussman - Live at Sweet Rhythm
by Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net
Pianist Sussman was a young player on the NYC loft scene back in the late '70s when he gathered a few of his friends together and made a record. The result was Free Fall, a record that received critical acclaim, but without the financial reward to enable Sussman to keep the band together. The keyboard player ended up teaching at the Manhattan School of Music, writing music for television, work with Hank Jones and even touring with Blood Sweat &... read more
Rich Thompson - Less Is More
by Mark S Tucker, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
Luckily, I'd received Jack Mouse's "Range of Motion" at the same time I got Rich Thompson's "Less is More" and stacked them together in my slush pile. Reviewing the two, one right after the other, afforded a sharp contrast in drumming styles even though the two have played in much the same genre of ensembles as they now solo in smaller format CD releases. Mouse is an ambient sort of cat who creates environments for the rest of the band to... read more
Bobby Broom - The Way I Play: Live In Chicago
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Between stints of touring with Dr. John, or Sonny Rollins, or his own Deep Blue Organ Trio, guitarist Bobby Broom has been holding court in a Chicago restaurant for a decade or so in a small trio format. Eventually feeling comfortable with the vibe he'd been creating, a live album was culled from a series of recordings over a few months of the live show. Among all of the jazz standards here, there's a constant interplay between drummer Kobie... read more
Scenes - Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Timeless post bop is delivered by the quartet of Rick Mandyk/ts, John Stowell/g, Jeff Johnson/b and John Bishop/dr on this swinging live set at the Town Hall in Seattle Washington. The entire band sounds like they're both inspired and rejuvenated by the end of the COVID lockdown, with everyone sounding celebratory in delivery.
Mandyk's tenor smokes like a Cohiba, breathy on the mellow "Tilbury Hill", fluffy over Bishop's deft brushes for... read more
Ben Thomas Tango Project - Eternal Aporia
by Angela Ballhorn, Jazz'n'More (Switzerland)
Sometimes life takes strange paths with you, Ben Thomas would not have thought 15 years ago that his passion for tango dancing and the resulting interest in music would lead him to this tango project. Thomas lays down melodies and rhythms in his compositions on both the vibraphone and the bandoneon, his melodic companions on the violin and clarinet play along enchantingly, while the bass sets clear rhythmic accents. All the elements of tango are... read more
Geof Bradfield - Urban Nomad
by Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net
Sometimes the right combination comes together at the right time and the stars align. In the case of jazz recordings, success depends on the right songs, personnel, recording qualities, etc... Origin Records must be living a charmed life because their luck with Chicago artists has been exceptional. Most likely it is hard work and good decisions, but for whatever reason, recent releases from artists like the Kelly Brand Sextet and Matt Ulery's... read more
Gabriel Guerrero & Quantum - Equilibrio
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable pianist Gabriel Guerrero brings his Colombian heritage to these worldly 11 tracks that put him in the company of Seth Trachy, Will Slater, Felix Lecaros, Fung Chern Hwei and Guillermo Barrón.
The textured warmth of "Present Moment" opens the listen with Trachy' elegant sax aligning with Guerrero's playful piano playing, and "Ozpal" follows with Lecaros' animated drums amid the dancing keys of the frisky climate.
Halfway... read more
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