Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Kiki Valera - Vivencias en Clave Cubana
by Joe Ross, Roots Music Report
5-STARS Kiki Valera opens his debut album with "Mi Son," a tribute to Son Cubano, the music that originated in eastern Cuba in the late 1800s by black and mulatto musicians, and then incorporated both African and Spanish elements as it gained universal appeal. We learn that the music comes from the hills ("mi son viene de la loma"), has lyrics sung with grace, poetry, rhythm, love ("gracia y poesia, ritmo y amor") and if you want to... read more
Pharez Whitted - For the People
by Ken Dryden, All Music
Chicago native Pharez Whitted may not have garnered the attention of New York-based trumpeters, but he has built an impressive career over several decades. For the People features his working band (saxophonist Eddie Bayard, guitarist Bobby Broom, pianist Ron Perrillo, bassist Dennis Carroll, and drummer Greg Artry), playing his compositions. "Watusi Boogaloo" is a perfect opener, as Whitted develops a hip groove and features the entire band.... read more
Purna Loka Ensemble - Metaraga
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Loka's cover shot makes it look like he's hanging out with Jerry Garcia and Johnny Cash, and in some weird way, this set of improvs based on classical Indian music sounds like he's made it so you hear hippie grooves smacking into hillbilly/Celtic riffs. Not at all what you'd expect if someone told you to check out this Indian music/world set, interesting nu moves are stretching into all corners of the world making exciting new fusions that have... read more
Tom Collier - Plays Haydn, Mozart, Telemann and others
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Tom Collier is a bit of a character as, can be attested by the YouTube videos below. He has served as Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Washington since 1980. In 2011, he was appointed Chair of Jazz Studies at the school, and was awarded the Adelaide D. Currie Cole Endowed Professorship in the School of Music for the academic years 2011-2014. He is, indeed, having a good year. His last recording, Mallett Fantasique (Origin... read more
Dudley Owens | Aaron Immanuel Wright - People Calling
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Owen Dudley / Aaron Wright Band's People Calling, in the best possible sense, doesn't settle into any category. The title tune, introduced early and reprised at the end of the disc, walks a line between the spirituality-steeped sound of saxophonist John Coltrane's classic sixties quartet and the soulful and catchy style of vocalist/songwriter/producer Curtis Mayfield. The result is stirred with social consciousness, with drummer Clif... read more
Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
by Jeff Wanser, CD Hotlist: Baker & Taylor
The Door opens into a set of fine original compositions and arrangements by Chicago pianist Brand. To some extent this is a family affair, with her husband, Kelly Sill, on bass, and her daughter Naomi guesting on cello, but she gets much of her help from other folks on sax, flute, trumpet, drums, and occasional vocals. Her fourth CD, this is squarely contemporary, with excellent arrangements, tasteful solos, and beautiful melodies throughout.... read more
John Stowell & Dan Dean - Rain Painting
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4-STARS Guitarist John Stowell has spent two decades recording for Seattle's Origin records, collaborating with artists such as saxophonists Dave Liebman and Michael Zilber, drummer John Bishop, bassist Jeff Johnson and guitarist Ulf Bandgren. His work with the band Scenes—with Bishop and Johnson, and (twice) saxophonist Rick Mandyck—is particularly noteworthy. Bassist Dan Dean—with a sparser discography than Stowell's—has made... read more
Jerry Heldman - Revelation(s)
by Paul de Barros, Seattle Times
This double CD fills in a long lost missing link in Northwest jazz history. Recorded live in 1973 and 1974 at various small venues in Portland and Seattle, the music is played by a quartet led by the late, legendary - but seldom-recorded - Seattle pianist (and bassist) Jerry Heldman, who from 1965-68 presided over the Llanghaelhyn, a coffee house on Eastlake located in the turreted, fairy-tale building by the University bridge.
Heldman, who... read more
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