Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Metropolitan Jazz Octet - The Bowie Project
by Paul Reynolds, All About Jazz
A tribute to a pop artist by jazz musicians—as with the new David Bowie album by Chicago's Metropolitan Jazz Octet—has to tread a careful line. It obviously won't—can't—be a rote reproduction of the originals, a flaw that sinks many pop-to-pop tributes. Yet it needs to translate the songs into jazz—its harmonic sophistication, especially—in a way that retains the essence of the artist being celebrated.
The MJO effort deftly rises... read more
Marlene Rosenberg - MLK Convergence
by Matt Silver, WRTI, Philadelphia
Jazz Album of the Week: Bassist Marlene Rosenberg's MLK Convergence Captures Spirit of Protests
Inspired by the protest music of the '60s that helped dismantle the codified racism of that era, bassist Marlene Rosenberg's latest album, MLK Convergence, released almost exactly a year ago, presents a new catalogue of socially conscious compositions with the exigency of our current moment in mind, taking aim at the vestiges of... read more
Jack Mouse - Range of Motion
by Carol Banks Weber, Examiner.com
When the pushy melodic canyon of "LaPorta" comes on, it's hard to believe this isn't a cover of some famous post-bop groove artist many decades before. Then, you read on the back of Jack Mouse's debut album, Range Of Motion on Origin Records, that he composed and arranged all 10 tracks. Even more astounding.
The drummer's probably picked up a lot of tricks in his illustrious career backing names like Clark Terry, Bill Evans, Stan... read more
Doug Beavers 9 - Two Shades of Nude
by Ric Erben, Jazz Junction Review
Trombonist Doug Beavers has released an outstanding album that features spirited arrangements and soloing upon original compositions as well as music from other jazz composers. In Phil Woods parlance, this is a "little big band" as the instrumentation achieves a rich tonal pallet, sounding both tight and loose at the same time. Beavers has played in the Mingus Big Band and toured with Eddie Palmieri; and has found inspiration in the works of... read more
Gregg Keplinger / Reuben Radding / Daniel Carter - Language
by Dave Nathan, All About Jazz
Seattle's Origin label has pretty much kept its releases within the realm of modern mainstream jazz, now dips its toe into the free jazz/avant garde pool with Language. Featuring Daniel Carter on alto, Rueben Radding on bass and Gregg Keplinger on a set of very busy drums, the trio works through more than 50 minutes of music not designed for the timid listener. Made up of all original compositions, the set kicks off with a passionate "Speak... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by John Barron, The Jazz Word
A Tuesday night mainstay for years at Chicago's Green Mill Lounge, Deep Blue Organ Trio has been receiving wide-spread attention as of late, touring the U.S. as opening act for Steely Dan. Hoping to perpetuate this deserved recognition, the trio is set to release its fourth release Wonderful!, a tribute to the songwriting legacy of Stevie Wonder. The disc is a toe tapping, swinging affair with nine interpretations of classic Wonder... read more
Joachim Mencel - Brooklyn Eye
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
Polish pianist and composer Joachim Mencel finally realized his dream of life with 'Brooklyn Eye': a recording in the heart of New York with notables from the jazz scene from there, more specifically Scott Colley, Rudy Royston and Steve Cardenas.
Not that Mencel is a novice. He has been composing for film, orchestra and ballet for years and has also performed on stage or in the studio with Richard Galliano, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Terry... read more
Scott Reeves - Portraits and Places
by Carmel DeSoto, Music Archives
New York based composer, arranger and trombonist/alto flugelhornist, Scott Reeves formed his impressive orchestra in 2008, and while Portraits and Places marks its recorded debut, Reeves spent a number of years before that sharpening his composing and arranging skills at the highly regarded BMI Jazz Composers Workshop where he received guidance and mentoring from Manny Albam, Mike Abene, Jim McNeely and Mike Holober. The result is influenced... read more
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