Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
speak - Speak
by Jay Collins, Cadence
Too often, the Jazz press laments the lack of mentorship in Jazz, with too many musicians coming right out of the conservatory without continuing oversight from more seasoned musicians. While the youngish 40 year old Cuong Vu might seem an unlikely "Jazz Elder," various playing experiences with the likes of many cutting-edge New York City groups, as well as big names like Pat Metheny or Laurie Anderson, seem to have prepared him for this course.... read more
Hadley Caliman - Gratitude
by John Barron, All About Jazz.com
Legendary west coast saxophonist Hadley Caliman made his mark by touring and recording with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson and Santana. For Gratitude, his first recording as a leader in three decades, Caliman is joined by vibist Joe Locke, bassist Phil Sparks, drummer Joe LaBarbera and trumpeter Thomas Marriott, who also produced the recording.
The disc opens with Marriott's "Back For More," a 6/8 minor blues.... read more
Dann Zinn - Day of Reckoning
by Anthony Dean-Harris, Downbeat
Day Of Reckoning is Dan Zinn's fifth album as a leader and lead it he certainly does. The reedist is very much at the forefront of this music, the band patter for his play. There's a buoyancy to the music here, floating along with ease, the players seemingly having a good time. Most performances, though, are just warm, never scalding hot.
"Continental Divide" gets enjoyably wild early on, until the tune shifts into a simpler gear, coasting... read more
Ziggurat Quartet - Calculated Gestures
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine
Calculated Gestures is by a group of veteran musicians from the Pacific Northwest who experiment with a gamut of sounds, using complex hip-hoppish beats on "XoBoX," snaky Indian melodies on "Vindaloo" and minimalist phrase repetition on "Oregonian Monkey Chant." These pieces often have the piano, bass, and drums locking into angular and fragmented rhythms while saxophonist Barber picks his way through on the top like he's climbing over barbed... read more
George Colligan - The Endless Mysteries
by Nate Chinen, New York Times
One of the finer piano trio albums of 2013 - released too late in the year, or on too small a label, to make a dent in the critics' polls - is George Colligan's The Endless Mysteries. It's a program of original compositions, most of them sensible and sturdy. And because it was recorded in a few hours with no rehearsal, it's the product of rough-and-ready postbop expertise, rather than the lived experience of a steady band.
At... read more
Brittany Anjou - Enamigo Reciprokataj
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
There's a fascinating disjunction shaping the work of pianist Brittany Anjou. In one bend of being, her endeavors reflect extreme faith in the concept of catholicity. As a student of Esperanto—the "universal language" devised by Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof in the late 19th century—and a musician warmly embracing an ecumenical approach, open lines and the ability to connect clearly play as prime factors in her art. But in an opposing arc... read more
Bad Luck - Four
by Ian Gwin, All About Jazz
4-STARS For over a decade, Seattle-based duo Bad Luck—that's Neil Welch (saxophones, electronics) and Christopher Icasiano (drums)—have packed and unpacked their deceptively simple formula of drums and saxophone. Through their deep musical partnership, they continue to recast the mold of contemporary music. Over countless fiery performances and three full-length releases, the depth of the duo's compositional improvisations has... read more
Mimi Fox - Standards
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
We can wrap this one up in short order. Mimi Fox is a terrific guitarist who possesses an immaculate touch and electrifying awareness, who swings hard and whose love for the music she plays is obvious. There's no doubt about that. And Standards is a marvelously recorded sample of her superb artistry. There's no doubt about that either.
On the other hand (he sighs), there is one false note, on tracks 1 and 6 ("All Blues," "Footprints"), both... read more
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