Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Bobby Broom - Song And Dance
by Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz
Most everyone has a favorite tune: A song that lingers in memory and takes you back to another time and place. For many years jazz musicians have transformed popular songs into instrumental pieces such as John Coltrane's version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit "My Favorite Things." There is magic in taking something familiar and transforming it into something new, as Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom proves once again on his new release Song and... read more
Benjamin Boone - The Poets Are Gathering
by Benjamin Kirk, Fresno State University Arts & Humanities
"That's my son collapsed there," poet Patricia Smith bluntly speaks in the album's opening line. "My son crumpled there," a rhetorical finger points past the distracting noise of the pundits and protests to the human crux of the issue. Smith's voice sharpens the accusation as Benjamin Boone's saxophone unravels the emotion behind the mother's words.
"My son dangling there. My son caged there...My daughter splayed there...My son hanging... read more
Eric Jacobson - Discover
by Kevin Lynch, Shepherd Express
Eric Jacobson blazes. In person, the naturally powerful Milwaukee trumpeter has long conveyed the impression: "I'm gonna cut anybody here, and all comers." That's fueled some willfully dynamic solos. With trumpet poised, his muscular angularity recalls an Italian Futurist sculpture. So, Discover comes as a surprise, perhaps as a self-discovery, trading competitiveness for musical and artistic maturity.
The tune "Discover" arose from the... read more
Human Spirit - Dialogue
by George Colligan, Jazz Truth
Human Spirit is a Seattle based jazz group which I have had the pleasure of performing with a handful of times in the past year or so. Their new CD entitled "Dialogue" was recorded during a weekend gig at Tula's (one of the great jazz clubs of Seattle). The core members of the group- drummer Matt Jorgensen, trumpeter Thomas Marriott, and alto saxophonist Mark Taylor- invited two special guests from New York: pianist Orrin Evans and bassist... read more
Matt Vashlishan - No Such Thing
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Right from the get-go, one hears Vashlishan's silvery tone, sometimes reminiscent of Paul Desmond or Gary Foster. Most of the tunes here are originals, but it's interesting to note in particular a few which are based on changes to well known standards. Hence, "Amalgamation" is built on "Giant Steps""Solar"; "Lennie's Place""Green Dolphin Street"; and "Pieces" shadows "All the Things You Are." Vic Juris's guitar is fine, but in groups such as... read more
RadioAction - Hi-Fi
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
The group RadioAction is made up four young modern jazz artists working out of the New York area, although recorded here by the West Coast label Origin. These artists have something to say with their interpretations of the items on the play list, whether it be one of the original compositions or a jazz or classic standard. The tone of their conversations is sometimes piercing, as guided by the alto sax of Alex Graham and Whitney Ashe's piano on... read more
Gabriel Espinosa - The Brazilian Project
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and bassist Gabriel Espinosa gives a salute to the music of Brazil with a collection of his material that takes on the halcyon days of bossa nova and bring them up to date. He mixes and matches with a collection musicians in Roger Rocha/as-ss-fl, Josue Lopez/ts-fl, Daniel Freire/bars, Bruno Santos/fh, Rafael Rocha-Joabe Reis/tb, Andre Lopez-Felipe Silveira-Eduardo Farias/p, Giovani Malini/g, Hugo Maciel/eg Renato Rocha-Rafael Barata/dr... read more
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making a Scene
An "Auteur" is a filmmaker who exhibits so much influence and artistic control over a movie that the filmmaker is regarded as the author of the movie. In this case, "Auteur" reflects the David Weiss artistic vision, as a bandleader, a trumpeter and composer. There are three key elements of an 'Auteur.' One is technical competence, two is distinguishable personality, and the most important principle is interior meaning; the intangible seat of... read more
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