Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
The Spin Quartet - In Circles
by Paul Abella, Music Lounge - WDCB, Chicago
First up, Chicago's own Spin Quartet. They've got a new album out called In Circles (Origin Records). Led by Seattle transplant Chad McCullough, this is an all-star group, featuring Geof Bradfield on tenor sax, Clark Sommers on bass and Kobie Watkins on drums. This piano-less quartet can kick up a storm when it wants to (as on "You Will Look for Yours On Earth") but it can also be nice and mellow (as on "Simple Song"). Considering the lack... read more
Alison Ruble - This Is A Bird
by Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz.com
Vocalist Alison Ruble adds her name to the list of great Chicago musicians making CDs for Seattle's Origin Records with her latest, This is a Bird. It's a beautiful disc with a phenomenal backing band that would likely make it nearly impossible to put out anything but a top-notch effort. So, put a great singer on top and play a bunch of great tunes, and you'll have a foolproof album. And that's exactly what we've got here.
This is a Bird's... read more
John Wojciechowski - Focus
by Charles L. Latimer, I Dig Jazz
The jazz saxophonist John Wojciechowski is a native of Mount Clemens, MI, and a graduate of Western Michigan University. His dad was a sheet metal worker who moonlighted as a jazz organist, and who made sure music was a big part of his son's existence. After college Wojciechowski played briefly in New York, returned to Michigan, and when the worked there slowed to a crawl around 2002, he moved to Chicago and became a valuable player and jazz... read more
David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Triple Exposure
by Brian Zimmerman, Downbeat
EDITOR'S PICK, DEC, '16 David Friesen's new album with his Circle 3 Trio is a deeply personal statement, from the clean, stimulating compositions that form the bulk of the disc to the original mixed-media collage that adorns the cover. As such, the music here feels buttressed by the support of real life experience, and almost always the listener gets the sense that highly individuated musical concepts are in play. The group wrestles... read more
Hal Galper - E Pluribus Unum - Live in Seattle
by Ethan Krow, Audiophile Audition
Hal Galper has often worked best with small bands. He flourishes when working with a simple trio of piano, with drum and bass, especially in the last few decades. On his latest release with Origin E Pluribus Unum: Live In Seattle he reunites with bassist Jeff Johnson from 2006's Furious Rubato and brings in drummer John Bishop for a wonderful night including several compositions by Galper and a few delightful covers.
Irving Berlin's... read more
Bobby Broom - The Way I Play: Live In Chicago
by D. Oscar Grimes, O's Place Jazz Letter
Guitarist Bobby Broom leads a trio with Dennis Carroll (b) and Kobie Watkins (d) for this live session at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Chicago. They are playing bebop - eight covers of classic tunes. Bobby takes the bull by the horns on Parker's "Donna Lee" and Rollins' "Unit 7" with great fills from Watkins. Performing in a restaurant is always challenge but at least a few of the patrons were captured by Broom's work and there was lots of... read more
John Moulder - The Eleventh Hour
by Dave Sumner, Bird Is The Worm Jazz Blog
Backed by saxophonist Geof Bradfield (who also doubles on bass clarinet), pianist Jim Trompeter, Larry Gray on bass, and long-time collaborator Paul Wertico on drums, guitarist John Moulder presents an excellent live set from Chicago?s historical jazz venue, The Green Mill. Moulder has emerged as one of the unique voices on jazz guitar, equally comfortable showing a face of quiet solitude as he is of sharpened steel. No better representation of... read more
Andrea Brachfeld - Brazilian Whispers
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A member of the sorority of women that know how to pour the flute juice with a free hand that ultimately wind up letting Brazil shine on them, Brachfeld goes right to the Jobim source while avoiding most of the Jobim clichés to really get inside the music she loves. Backed up by a crew you don't find waiting around the union hall for some pick up work, all the right moves are in all the right places as art and heart mix it up here in fine form.... 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