Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Amit Friedman - Sunrise
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Here's a guy that keeps with the jazz groove and sounds, but adds some exciting new ideas along the way. Amit Friedman plays tenor, soprano and flute, and teams up with a band that sounds fairly normal, with a pianist (Omri Mor), bassist (Gilad Abro), drummer (Amir Bresler) and percussionist (Rony Iwryn), but stirs the pot a bit with the addition of Amos Hoffman, who includes the guitar and oud, the Middle Eastern acoustic guitar. The mix of... read more
Shawn Purcell - Oblivity
by Joe Barth, Jazz Guitar Today
Some wonderful guitarists have come out of Pittsburgh, including Shawn Purcell. Shawn studied in the prestigious guitar program at Duquesne University and went on to serve his country as an Air Force musician in some of the top military bands. Before his retirement from the military, he was stationed near Washington DC. Now, a first-call guitarist in the Washington-metro area who has just released a new album Oblivity.
JB: Your group is... read more
Michael Waldrop - Origin Suite
by Robert Rusch, Cadence
MICHAEL WALDROP [drm/vib] is another artist with past ties to North Texas State and his big band is not traditional as displayed on ORIGIN SUITE. Recorded at various times from August 2010 though July 2017 presented here are a dozen originals mostly by Waldrop. There are also moments for small groupings. Purists will be set off by the lack of continuity in style and manner of the CD, that said, the various styles employed work well. The main... read more
Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra - Refractions
by Ben Ohmart, Music Dish
My favorite jazz label is back with something you don't hear every day. The Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra goes much further than the average big band. In fact, this isn't a big band in the accepted sense. It's more akin to an orchestra doing movie music. When the opening track starts, you'll think you've wandered in to a mid-70s Airport film being scored for a main title. Well, maybe not quite that extreme, but there's something about the... read more
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Icrom Bigrad, Jazz Sensibilities
David Weiss' Auteur, the latest release with his sextet, hits with the force of a well-honed ensemble ten years in the making. This album, crafted by musicians rooted in the evolution of modern jazz, highlights Weiss' original composition and an ensemble that speaks in a language of the jazz lineage. The seven-track collection, released on September 20, 2024, through Origin, shines with Weiss' signature blend of unrecorded historical gems and... read more
Barry Greene - Giants
by George Harris, Jazz Weekly
Guitarist Barry Greene sticks to his color charts as he gives hints of guitarist Grant Green on this satisfyingly swinging stringed session. He switches between Pat Bianchi/B3, David Kikoski/p, Steve Nelson/vib and Marco Panascia/b, with Ulysses Owens Jr/dr being the only other constant, supplying a supple support. With Bianchi's humming Hammond, Greene brings in some clever effects on the delicate opening to buildup blueser "Backtrack" wile... read more
Bruce Williamson - Standard Transmission
by David Kane, Cadence Magazine
Fortunately, I don't have to end this batch of reviews on a down note thanks to (13), a new CD from saxist Williamson. This is in part due to the presence of the chronically under-appreciated talents of pianist Art Lande. More than just a celebrity sideman (as with the previous CD), Art contributes several arrangements to the proceedings as well as his incisive pianism. The CD largely consists of standards but thankfully, this is no routine... read more
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Joseph Ross, Amazon
5-STARS Recorded in Brooklyn, NY, and released on the Washington state-based Origin Records label in 2025, Blessed & Bewitched is a fine introduction to the music of Austria-based singer Maja Jaku. With her intriguing-sounding name and colorful background in her native Kosovo, Maja is sure to stir up interest with her Origin debut. Ostensibly free form jazz filled with a variety of jazz and pop influences, Blessed & Bewitched is... 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