Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Benjamin Boone - The Poets Are Gathering
by Brenda Nelson-Strauss, Black Grooves
Composer-saxophonist Benjamin Boone continues his fascination with poetry and jazz on his latest album, The Poets Are Gathering. The Cal State University Fresno professor, who has released two previous collections devoted to this pairing, notes that jazz and poetry have been inextricably linked since the Harlem Renaissance. Following the tradition of artists such as Langston Hughes and Charles Mingus, who collaborated on the album Weary Blues... read more
Jordan VanHemert - Survival of the Fittest
by Gary Fukushima, All About Jazz (Album Liner Notes)
For most of his life, Jordan VanHemert has been on a quest of growth and mastery as a saxophonist, composer and musician. But equally important have been his efforts to contextualize some of the difficulties of his life experiences within the deeper themes of his DNA, discovering in the process resilience, optimism and joy. Jordan's music is meant to convey empathy and solidarity to others who have also faced challenges in their lives. This... read more
Steve Korn - Here and Now
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
A drummer who is a leader has to be aware not to take advantage of his position by overwhelming his fellow players and listeners with long, non-directional solos, yet at the same time let it be known that this is, in fact, his or her album, often a difficult balance to achieve. Steve Korn handles this problem very nicely by not letting it become a problem. He has gathered a roster of top-flight musicians from the Northwest region, including two... read more
John Bishop with Jeff Johnson, Rick Mandyck, John Stowell - Scenes
by Fred Crafts, Eugene Register-Guard, November 30, 2001
Major stages and large audiences are the usual setting for guitarist John Stowell, drummer John Bishop, bassist Jeff Johnson and tenor saxophonist Rick Mandyck. But for their Eugene appearance on Dec. 7, they will be squeezed up against the front window of the downtown Eugene shop Provenance, giving what may be one of their most intimate performances ever. Call this an act of brotherly love. Bishop's sister, Christy Bishop, an avid jazz... read more
Carlos Vega - Art of the Messenger
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4-STARS In case you didn't quite catch the "message" subtly embedded in the title of Chicago-based tenor saxophonist Carlos Vega's new recording, Art of the Messenger, here is a brief reminder that it was drummer Art Blakey who formed the Jazz Messengers in the mid-1950s and led the celebrated hard-bop ensemble until his death in 1990. The Messengers' roster of alumni reads like a Who's Who of Jazz Hall of Fame members.
With that in... read more
Aaron Immanuel Wright - Eleven Daughters
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
For Portland bassist Aaron Immanuel Wright, his debut album could just about be mistaken for a Tim Willcox album. Wright's pen is behind the full album, with outstanding original compositions that take in parts from bebop, modal jazz, and post-bop. The pieces are rich, textural, and full of life throughout. However, Wright's bass is somewhat hidden behind the rest of the quartet. Willcox's tenor holds court up front, and does a beautiful job. He... read more
Bill Anschell - Figments
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
It's true, you can go wherever you wish with a mind-boggling 88 keys when you're going it alone. And so it is that Anschell takes us on an intriguing journey of creativity on this solo album. He begins the proceedings with a very different take on "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." I'd think that Cole Porter would have dug it! Next comes Cahn-Van Heusen's gorgeous "All My Tomorrows," a tune seemingly being rediscovered decades after it was written.... read more
Jack Mouse - Range of Motion
by Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz
Drummer and educator Jack Mouse has a versatile and prolific career. In addition to playing, among many others, with trumpeter Clark Terry, saxophonist James Moody and pianist Stan Kenton he has been actively involved in education as a faculty member at various institutions and as a writer for percussion magazines. His debut album Range of Motion comprises ten of his originals that exhibit a variety of influences and are in a number of different... read more
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