Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Aaron Germain - Chance
by Ian Patterson, All About Jazz
San Francisco based bassist/composer Aaron Germain's follow-up to his debut Before You Go (Self Produced, 2010) harnesses some of the Bay Area's finest musicians on another set of the leader's original compositions. The personnel, who includes French/Vietnamese guitarist Nguyen Le, is completely different to Germain's eclectic debut and it sounds like it too. Whereas Before You Go reflected Germain's command of bop, funk, blues and Latin,... read more
George Colligan & Theoretical Planets - Risky Notion
by Ken Micallef, Downbeat
Finally, what with everyone thinking they're as smart as their drummer, some want to become the drummer, as heard on pianist George Colligan & Theoretical Planets' Risky Notion. As Colligan tells it, after recording his 25th album, it was "time for something drastically different." But can Colligan play? Well, can Jack DeJohnette play the piano? Can Chick Corea play the drums? Like these masters, Colligan acquits himself nicely in warm,... read more
Florian Hoefner - Coldwater Stories
by Raul da Gama, WholeNote
The songs of Coldwater Stories by pianist Florian Hoefner seem to run one into the other, and despite the sometimes pronounced silences which form part of the music, the sound is continuous. This is just like the icy waters of the Atlantic Sea off the coast of Newfoundland, "tumbling in harness," as Dylan Thomas once said singing from the Welsh coast. Wearing his profoundly lyrical skin comfortably, Hoefner's own poetry can also be chameleonic... read more
Florian Hoefner - Luminosity
by Ken Waxman, The Whole Note
Musically, Luminosity may be the most straight ahead of the sessions reviewed here, but it's also the one with the most varied cast. The program is eight compositions by German-born-and-raised pianist Florian Hoefner, who after a long period in New York, now teaches at Memorial University in St. John's. The quartet is completed by American bassist Sam Anning, Austrian drummer Peter Kronreif and Vancouver-raised, Manhattan-based tenor and soprano... read more
Mimi Fox - This Bird Still Flies
by Elzy Kolb, Hot House Jazz
Mimi Fox has called Northern California her home since 1980, but the New York-born guitarist still has a special place in her heart for the Big Apple. "I love the vivacity, intensity and energy. There's a straightforwardness that I really miss, it feels honest and real, it's not artifice and BS. I love that you can buy a New York Times without the guy selling it telling you to have a nice day—sometimes I don't want to have a nice day, I don't... 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
Sonando - Tres
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Here's an interesting item. A Latin jazz release from Seattle. What makes it interesting is that Sonando is able to incorporate both the idioms of Latin jazz and the subtlety and grace that's fast becoming the hallmark of the Northwest jazz scene. The pieces here are a mix of originals and pieces from around the jazz world (Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Abdullah Ibrahim), rearranged as needed to fit the desired style. It's the seamless... read more
Tom Collier - Alone in the Studio
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Tom Collier plays vibes, marimba, piano, drums and bass synthesizer all by his lonesome on this mix of standards and originals. He's a one man band on the bouncy take of "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise" and the deftly swinging "Five Brothers" and can create a full bodied funk on his own "Orbital Dance." His vibes can glow and chime on "Little Green Thing" and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" while on marimba he sets a nice mood on the... 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