Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Jessica Williams - Freedom Trane
by Tom Ineck, Berman Music
Ever since the death of John Coltrane more than 40 years ago, jazz musicians of every ilk have attempted to get at the core of his sound, the key to its immutable power and transcendent spirit. Aside from Coltrane bandmate McCoy Tyner, perhaps Jessica Williams on Freedom Trane comes as close to the source as a piano player is likely to get.
Four of the eight tunes come from the Coltrane songbook, but the other half were written by... read more
Hal Galper - Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
In 1977, studio guys like Hal Galper, Mike Brecker and Randy Brecker were able to make good bucks as studio musicians. Galper just got off doing a stint with Cannonball Adderley and teamed up with the Brecker Brothers, bassist Wayne Docker and drummer Bob Moses to set up ship in NYC's Sweet Basil for a year to work on their own songbook. What came out of that effort was this hard hitting two disc set, a recorded gig while on tour in Berlin of... read more
Chad McCullough - Dark Wood, Dark Water
by Elliott Simon, All About Jazz
As illuminating as new views of familiar landscapes can be, a vibrant jazz scene is best measured by its ability to foster young artists creating new music. Dark Wood, Dark Water's compositions employ advanced harmonics and are all originals, save for the band's lovely and unique take on Lennon-McCartney's "Blackbird." Joining Chad McCullough and Jeff Johnson are Bishop himself, saxophonists Mark Taylor and Geof Bradfield and pianist Bill... read more
Michael Waldrop Big Band - Time Within Itself
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
This big band recording is notable for its arranger, Dr. Jack Cooper. Cooper recently released a revelatory Jack Cooper: Mists -Charles Ives For Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts, 2014), which was the "most recommended" recording at All About Jazz in 2014. Cooper is a professor of music at the University of Memphis and he properly embraces the heritage of that great Southern City. Cooper's arrangements are unique in their brassy "wall-of-sound"... read more
Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra - Without a Trace
by Nigel Waddington, London Jazz News
New York Big Band leader and composer Scott Reeves is someone whose music I wish I'd discovered sooner. His new release, Without A Trace, contains originals and standards, colourfully orchestrated and recorded with an intimate, club-like ambience.
These pieces really are "composed", and what a difference it makes. They are led by the line, so there is always a feeling of forward travel. No fewer than 12 soloists offer their artistry,... read more
George Colligan - The Endless Mysteries
by Brent Black, Critical Jazz
George Colligan serves up an interesting if not slightly eclectic offering to offer a breath of fresh air to the all too predictable jazz trio format.
George Colligan is a lunch pail pianist, he works incredibly hard. A diligent performer, teacher and over all student of music himself, Colligan has had the good fortune to develop a long association with iconic drummer Jack DeJohnette as well as an incredibly poor choice in one... read more
Lincoln Goines - The Art of the Bass Choir
by Chris Jisi, Bass Magazine
At the top level of New York City's jazz, Latin, and studio scenes for four decades, bassist Lincoln Goines has put together this highly ambitious recording for his debut as a leader. With elegant textures inspired by Bill Lee's New York Bass Violin Choir and Steve Swallow's upper register explorations, Goines created a collage of styles and moods, built on a collection of favorite tunes and textured within the parameters of clearly voiced low... read more
Marcos Varela - San Ygnacio
by Scott Albin, Amazon
Although Marcos Varela was born and raised in Houston, his roots go back to the tiny Texas town of San Ygnacio and the family ranch that dates back to at least the 1750's-- hence this album's title. From Varela's New York City base of the past 12 years, the active bassist has performed with such artists as Jason Moran, Geri Allen, the Mingus Big Band, and Kendrick Scott, while also composing music for film and TV. For his first CD as a... read more
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