Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The conductor and arranger John La Barbera steers this New York City Big Band into hard-swinging territory, where the 4 arranged tunes and 6 originals are fleshed out with plenty of brass, winds and a stunning rhythm section.
The title track opens the listen with plenty of energy from the bright brass, before calmer bouts of grooves and Brandon Coleman's precise drums that make an impression, and "My New Summer Samba" follows with a... read more
John Moulder - Bifrost
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
At the beginning of Bifrost, the sound from John Moulder and his half-American, half-Norwegian quintet is fairly exploratory, ambient. By the end of that first title track, though, the sound has developed into full electric guitar mania. Moulder has his way with his guitar, to say the least. Quickly going into the next piece, though, Moulder and the band morph into an early morning, introspective sound. It may sound an odd comparison, but from... read more
Trio East - Best Bets
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
The Trio East's new album, Best Bets, is a decidedly relaxed affair, and that is in no way a bad thing. Clay Jenkins is a smart, economical trumpet player with an exceptional, dynamic rhythm section behind him. Jeff Campbell on bass plays smoothly and dramatically, and works very well in conjunction with Rich Thompson on drums. Thompson is an amazing drummer, with a strong sense of tempo, and his excellent playing adds tension and drama to the... read more
Kim Richmond / Clay Jenkins Ensemble - CrossWeave
by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Altoist Kim Richmond and his co-leader, trumpeter Clay Jenkins, contributed six of the nine songs to this sextet session. The originals and the improvisations are very harmonically advanced and thick with chords, while still swinging. The underrated tenor saxophonist Rich Perry takes many creative solos, as does Richmond, Jenkins, and pianist Harold Danko. While none of the originals are destined to become standards in the future, the music is... read more
Josh Nelson - The Sky Remains
by Keizo Takada, Music Pen Club (Japan)
Josh Nelson, a Jazz pianist plays an active role in Los Angeles, was born in 1978. When he was 19 years old, he released his first album "First Stories" and has released many albums that mainly feature his originals. He toured various countries as a pianist for Natalie Cole for 6 years. He has been a music director for Sara Gazarek over 10 years, toured in Japan with her, and played together in her latest album "Dream in Blue".He has also... read more
Karrin Allyson - A Kiss for Brazil
by Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene
Karrin Allyson's annual visits to Catalina Bar & Grill are always well worth attending. While she recorded her debut album back in 1992, she is still very much in prime form 32 years later. At Catalina's she was joined by the very talented pianist Miro Sprague, bassist Karl McComas-Reichl, and drummer Dan Schnelle.
Since the singer's most recent album is A Kiss For Brazil, she included several Brazilian numbers that she sang in Portuguese and... read more
Clarence Penn - Behind the Voice
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
4-STARS Drummer Clarence Penn, a serious force on the scene for more than three decades, has worked with a who's who of vocalists—Betty Carter, Kandace Springs, Luciana Souza, Kate McGarry, Nellie McKay, Claudia Acuna, Paula Cole, Melissa Walker and Nneena Freelon, to name just a few. He knows more than a thing or two about history and creativity behind the voice, and he's here to show it with this sharply-constructed date. Working... read more
Paul Tynan - quARTet
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4-STARS Trumpeter Paul Tynan's offering for 2019 is entitled quARTtet, emphasis on the capitalization of the embedded word "art."
Jazz recordings have a long history of pairing up with the visual arts, especially in the realm of album and CD cover images: The paintings on Charles Mingus' Mingus Ah Um (Columbia, 1959); all of pianist Dave Brubeck's "Time" recordings of the late 1950/early 1960s; and drummer Chico Hamilton's Ellington... read more
Looking for a specific review?
This is just a small collection of the Origin Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect