Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Bill Anschell - Figments
by Larry Hollis, Cadence
Another name that shows up quite regularly on the Origin/OA2 rosters is Bil Anschell, a pianist surely worthy of wider exposure. As both leader and sideman he has racked up an impressive cache of credentials, playing in varied configurations from duets to larger settings, but 'Figments' is his debut in a solo piano setting. Captured on the most basic studio equipment at is home somewhere in the greater Seattle area, these unpretentious and... read more
Geof Bradfield - melba!
by Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
You'd think that any jazz musician who wrote for Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, Billy Eckstine and Randy Weston -- and also played trombone for Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones and Gerald Wilson -- would be known to all the world. But outside of connoisseurs, few are familiar with the pioneering work of Melba Liston, who arranged two of pianist's Weston's most ambitious compositions, "Uhuru Afrika" and "Highlife," and enjoyed a long-lasting... read more
Hal Galper & the Youngbloods - Live at the Cota Jazz Festival
by Bob Bernotas, Just Jazz
Pianist Hal Galper calls his music "Rubato Style." It's free yet formal, lyrical yet rhythmic, soloist-centered yet collectively-based. But beyond all that, it's an intriguing and colorful concept that draws you in and carries you away. In this 2016 performance Galper and three protégés — alto saxophonist Nathan Bellott, bassist Dean Torrey, drummer David Frazier — dig deeply to mine musical riches from three originals and Gordon Jenkins'... read more
Storms/Nocturnes - VIA
by Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
This is the third disc by the chamber jazz trio Storms/Nocturnes, and it cements the group as one of the tops in its genre. Pianist Geoffrey Keezer, vibraphonist Joe Locke and saxophonist Tim Garland put out textural compositions that combine the musical signatures of all three in a cohesive vision, while allowing each voice to stand on its own. The music is heavily influenced by places, reflected in the tranquility of "Her Sanctuary," the... read more
Lorin Cohen - Home
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
Lorin's bass work is absolutely astounding on his debut performance as a leader! All-original compositions certainly contribute to the high-energy performances on all eight songs, but the BLUF is that this is just one oh-so-tight band that will catch your ears & hold them (for a long, LONG time to come)! Songs like the 5:32 opener, "Crossings", are a perfect example of the talent you'll be exposed to on this great album. The piano/bass intro... read more
Jared Sims - Against All Odds
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Any tenor saxophonist with the surname Sims is certain to draw the attention of a seasoned reviewer, if only out of curiosity. The first name in this instance is Jared, not Zoot (well, not John). As it turns out, Sims has an impressive resume as a performer, writer, educator and leader; Against All Odds is at least his tenth album as foreman of his own group. Jared Sims is a capable player who knows his way around a horn; what he lacks is his... read more
James Moody - 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005
by George Varga, The San Diego Union Tribune
James Moody at 100: The late music great is being celebrated near and far
A new album and star-studded concerts in San Diego and New York will honor the jazz legend, who longtime friend and collaborator Quincy Jones hailed as "a national treasure."
In a career that stretched across seven decades, Grammy Award-winning music legend James Moody performed for two presidents at the White House and twice for the king of Thailand in... read more
Rodney Whitaker - Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Carmel de Soto, Jazz Music Archives
Rodney Whitaker's "Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill," a musical canvas colored with bold strokes of intellect, sentiment, and compositional artistry. Whitaker, a beacon of jazz education and an accomplished double bassist, presents us with an inspired interpretation of Hill's compositions, offering listeners an intimate look into the heart and soul of the genre.
Whitaker, a distinguished professor, and director of jazz studies at the Michigan... read more
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