Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Michael Waldrop - Time Frames
by Editor, Take Effect
The multi-instrumentalist and educator Michael Waldrop made me a fan pretty quick with 2019's Triangularity, and this follow up and 4th album highlights Waldrop's marimba talent as he takes help from Gordon Stout, Brad Dutz, Jose Rossy and Marko Djordjevic across chamber, classical and groove filled tracks.
Waldrop starts the listen with the mesmerizing and rhythmic "Fractals", where his marimba skills flow alongside cultured bongos from... read more
Bad Luck - Four
by Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily
Best Jazz on Bandcamp / Aug 2018 The Bad Luck duo is a powder keg of intensity, and it takes only the faintest spark to detonate. But the resulting combination of saxophone and drums isn't solely defined by its heat. There's a beguiling motion to the flames, a hazy sense of melodic deliberateness that's the key to the music's hypnotic effect. Drummer Chris Icasiano and saxophonist Neil Welch add generous amounts of electronic effects,... read more
Ted Moore Trio - The Natural Order of Things
by George Harris, Jazz Weekly
Drummer and percussionist Ted Moore teams up with pianist Phil Markowitz and bassist Kai Eckhardt for a collection of mostly modal, mostly original tunes. The one ringer is Joseph Brakett's "Simple Gifts" which also includes clever dashes of Aaron Copeland in the puree'. Moore lays down nice pulsations to Markowitz's McCoy Tyner-inspired chords on the rich title track and the assertive "What's The Meaning of This" while the team snaps to "Theme... read more
José Luiz Martins - Odyssey Mixtape
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Playing piano, keys and synthesizers, Jose Luiz Martins mixes his own compositions with covers as he creates rich textures with a post-bop team of Alex Hamburger/fl-voc, Romeir Mendez/b, Dana Hawkins/dr and guests John Lee/g, Nakama/voc, Tyrone Allen/eb and Florian Haas/dr. The mix of Martins keys and Hamburger's beefy flute work wonders as on the upbeat and Latin'd "Cravo E Canela" while Lee joins in with the two for some tricky lines on the... read more
New York Voices - Reminiscing in Tempo
by C. Michael Bailey, All About jazz
What the quartet New York Voices achieves with their performance of Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo Á La Turk" disguised as "Round, Round, Round" by lyricist Lauren Kinhan is nothing short of a schizophrenic jazz "Carmina Burana." Lithe, muscular, and smart, the performance is dense and thought-provoking, deftly navigating between its disparate 9/8 and 4/4 sections.
The 9/8 sections are presented in almost astringent counterpoint, the vocals... read more
Greta Matassa | Clipper Anderson - And to All a Good Night
by Lee Mergner, JazzTimes
In this beautifully recorded and produced album from the underrated Origin label, holiday music is given a set of exquisite and precise arrangements. The Seattle-based Matassa is the chief lead singer, although co-leader and bassist Anderson takes a turn in the spotlight on a few songs. The music could perhaps be described as West Coast cool jazz, but they mix up the rhythms pretty well. Matassa's voice has a purity something like June Christy... read more
Lower Monumental - Mayday Session
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
Two-thirds of the group formerly known as Flatland return for a new debut with this one, a recording of a live improv session on one of Seattle's better avant-garde radio stations. The music is relatively similar to that of Flatland, with the notable removal of a bass and addition of a sax, courtesy of Saul Cline, a session player occasionally with Matt Jorgensen + 451. The atmosphere is particularly spacey here, but generally aims for the... read more
Michael Waldrop - Origin Suite
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A modern, big band deluxe date, this is a wide ranging, sweeping set that encompasses everything some real edge. Loaded with everything that makes you show up for a big band date, this is sure to have your head spinning in a good way. Killer stuff... read more
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