Origin Records Reviews



Dana Hall - Into the Light
by Brian Baker, City Beat

Dana Hall isn't merely a Jazz drummer ? he's a magician who elicits the same jaw dropping reaction with a kit and sticks that David Copperfield gets when he makes aircraft carriers or the Statue of Liberty vanish.
The gifted rhythmatist started out by earning a degree in aerospace engineering at Iowa State before getting his Bachelor of Music from New Jersey's Paterson College and his Masters in composition and arranging from DePaul (he's... read more

New Stories - Speakin Out
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz

4-STARS New Stories is a seasoned piano trio (and a very good one) rendered even more persuasive on Speakin' Out by the singular presence (on five of nine tracks) of renowned saxophone maestro Ernie Watts. The trio itself consists of pianist Marc Seales, bassist Doug Miller and drummer (and Origin Records founder) John Bishop. The wide-selling album, a centerpiece of Origin's catalog since its initial release in 2000, when New Stories... read more

Thomas Marriott - Flexicon
by Dick Crockett, The Voice, Sacramento

Thomas Marriott demonstrates one of the most active and strong clear blue trumpet tones in jazz, so overt and apparent on his new "Flexicon" CD, and with Mark Taylor's hard edged saxophone play, Bill Anschell's particulate sound on both acoustic piano and Rhodes, along Jeff Johnson, the best bassist from the Great Northwest and versatile power drummer Matt Jorgensen.

They're terrific, right off the mark, in a tribute to the great Freddie... read more

Marius Nordal - Notoriety
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

It's easy to classify a jazz performer as a journeyman when he/she isn't well-known, doesn't have a slew of CDs, awards, or other accouterments of fame. Perhaps that's OK now and then, but not in the case of Marius Nordal. Working out of the jazz-rich Northwest U.S., he has carved himself a niche by working gigs, doing big band arrangements, teaching, and, in all cases, being a consummate master of the keys. On his initial album for the Origin... read more

Mark Taylor - Spectre
by Jay Collins, Cadence

On Spectre saxophonist Mark Taylor leads a quartet that plays straight ahead but with moody edge reminiscent of Wayne Shorter's Blue Note albums. There is spacious rhythm support on most pieces from Gary Fukushima, Jeff Johnson, and Byron Vannoy with Fukushima occasionally adding a layer of brooding electric piano. Taylor plays calm and lucid soprano on "Spectre" and "Fleeting" and unrolls expansive also lines over the rhythm section's slow... read more

Various Artists - Winter: An Origin Records Holiday Collection
by Carol Swanson, christmasreview.com

Winter is a solid jazz compilation by Origin Records, a label created in 1997 by Seattle drummer John Bishop. The label's focus is primarily on significant Northwest artists, and this CD is a perfect example of the burgeoning jazz community abounding in the Seattle area. Joining Bishop on this instrumental CD are Hans Teuber (saxophones, piano), Dave Peterson (guitar, piano), and Jeff Johnson (bass).

Slip this CD into the audio system, and... read more

Dawn Clement - Break
by Peter Monaghan, Earshot Jazz

Nuance and soul are both earmarks of Dawn Clement's Break (Origin Records) where the pianist is joined by a fine rhythm section of bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Matt Wilson.

Clear, assured, nimble, and muscular articulation - in the manner of a Phineas Newborn Jr. - is matched to some of the varieties of thought and feeling that he, too, submerged just below the surface of fresh styling.

Clement sings on a few of the tracks.... read more

John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Live Beauty
by Martin Z. Kasdan Jr., Louisville Music News

Guitarist John Stowell was a regular visitor to Louisville during the Bellarmine Jazz Guitar Festivals (RIP). Best known for his quietly elegant work, he is, in his own words, "playing with more energy" here with his friend, saxophonist Michael Zilber. They're joined by bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis for just over an hour's worth of music, five originals from band members, plus "My Funny Valentine" and John Scofield's... read more

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