Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Sarah Partridge - Bright Lights and Promises: Redefining Janis Ian
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
5-STARS How did nobody think to go here before? With a glut of fine Joni Mitchell tributes on the market and a couple of engrossing Laura Nyro nods out there, how is it that no creative spirits in the jazz or cabaret camps thought to make the full-on jump to Janis Ian before now? Hearing Sarah Partridge dig into Ian's body of work makes this concept seem like a no-brainer - an incredibly natural fit, in fact - but that may very well... read more
Last Word Quintet - Falling to Earth
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
A Chicago quartet, plus Marc Kelly Smith's voice, Last Word Quintet pen stories of urban life here, where 12 lively tracks unfold with nods to beat poetry.
The lively spirit of "Iron Tango" starts the listen with Smith's raw spoken word alongside Sarah Allen's well timed drums and Doug Lofstrom's playful bass, and "Children Of Paradise" follows with a hint of rasp, as Bob Long's warm keys guide the soulful brass.
In the middle, the... read more
Mark Taylor - Spectre
by John Barron, All About Jazz.com
Saxophonist Mark Taylor was announced Northwest Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2009 Earshot Jazz Awards. Such esteemed recognition may be due to his high profile supporting roles on Origin Records releases by Thomas Marriott and Matt Jorgensen + 451. For Spectre, his first recording as a leader in six years, the Seattle, Washington-based Taylor presents an inventive set of original, progressive jazz. The quartet setting features Taylor on... read more
Jordan VanHemert - Deep in the Soil
by Jean-Michel Schlosser, Couleurs Jazz (France)
Jordan VanHemert, multi-ring blower, usually on tenor, substitutes alto here (he also plays soprano, clarinet and flute), and appears as a sextet with, it has to be said, a line-up of exceptional class.
Our Korean-American saxophonist has already performed alongside Dmitri Matheny, Geri Allen and Rodney Whitaker, and this latest release marks his fifth album as leader.
From the outset, we're treated to an edgy, hard-bop jazz style, with... read more
Clipper Anderson - The Road Home
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
In the case of Seattle bassist Anderson, the "road home" is the ever changing scenery between Seattle and his boyhood home of Polson, Montana, population 4,500. Anderson pays tribute to that exquisite part of the country by performing a variety of original music and a few selections from other sources. His trio includes former Portland pianist Darin Clendenin, a buoyant and highenergy player of great skill, and his versatile long time drummer,... read more
David Friesen & Bob Ravenscroft - Passage
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Bassist David Friesen delivers concise duets with grand pianist Bob Ravenscroft for twenty five intuitive originals. Ravenscroft does some George Winston impressionism on "Perseverance" and Bill Evans romance on "Obedience" while for the most part you hear things like doors creaking open on "Temptation/Overcoming" and bass pickings and strings plucking on "Yielding" or "Family". Was that a saw I heard on "Resolution" or was it Tibetan... read more
Hal Galper Trio - Airegin Revisited
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
**** - 4 Stars
Hal Galper's Rubato playing style, which evolved over a period of years before the pianist made it the centerpiece of his group's performances, has confounded some listeners with its complex, overlapping rhythms where the musicians seem to be playing independently of one another. Yet those who focus on the interaction will recognize that it is just another method of giving familiar songs a new dimension. Galper's trio... read more
Les DeMerle - The Jazz Spirit of Christmas
by Carol Swanson, christmasreview.com
So solid, so sweet! The Jazz Spirit of Christmas is classic jazz, through and through! This generous album (well over an hour of music!) will satisfy your every jazz need this holiday season.
The dynamic Les DeMerle (drums, vocals) is the moving force behind this project; his wife Bonnie Eisele (vocals, percussion) has been his sizzlin' musical partner for 17 years. The other three ensemble members are Ken Poplowski (tenor sax & clarinet),... read more
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