Origin Records Reviews



Pharez Whitted - For the People
by Frank Alkyer, DownBeat Magazine

EDITOR'S PICK - DECEMBER 2012

On For The People, Chicago-based trumpeter Pharez Whitted digs into the hard-bop bag and pulls out an 11-song set that?s perfect for a weekend chill or a serious road trip. The unison lines he plays with guitarist Bobby Broom on tunes like ?Watusi Boogaloo? are infectious. ?If They Could Only See? delivers a sweet groove. But don?t think this is light listening. ?Freedom Song? packs a punch fueled... read more

Nick Finzer - The Chase
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

Trombonist Nick Finzer leads a sublimely swinging sextet through a collection of well crafted originals here. He teams up with Lucas PIno/reeds, Alex Wintz/g, Glenn Zaleski/p, Dave Baron/b and Jimmy McBride/dr and they glide easily with style and grace on medium tempo toe tappers like "Life Happens" and "All Hype." Finzer has a warm tone to his horn, easy and relaxed and it mixes well with Pino's tenor on the exotic "Spheres of Influence" while... read more

Michael Dease - The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'n'More (Switzerland)

5/5 - "UNMISTAKABLY GREAT" The trombonist Michael Dease (*1982) is one of today's best jazz trombonists who has recorded numerous first-class albums, especially in the mainstream. What was new for me was that he is also a very good baritone sax player, which he shows on the slow, very groovy "The Goodbye Blues," "Rio Mio" with a Caribbean touch, and the relatively free title track "The Other Shoe" sets in. On The Other Shoe Dease... read more

Shawn Purcell - 180
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly

Tensile toned guitarist Shawn Purcell creates a sophisticated organ combo with Pat Bianchi/B3, Jason Tiemann/dr and a couple guests that sounds like a summit meeting between the sophisticatedly bopping Pat Martino and explorative Larry Young. The advanced harmonics and pulses get intricate on the clever "Cat and Mouse" while Tiemann rumbles around in the magma on "180". There's fire in the frets on "Search and Destroy" and the team gets chunky... read more

Wellstone Conspiracy - Motives
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

This ensemble might have been labeled the Brent Jensen Quartet. They recorded One More Mile under the Idaho-based saxophonist's name. For their album Motives, however, they are calling themselves the Wellstone Conspiracy as they delve deeper into a melodic music that is steeped in the modern harmonic concepts of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.

The set opens with Jeff Johnson's grainy, guitar-like bass lines on the Jensen-penned "Bye Bye... read more

Joel Miller Sienna Dahlen - Dream Cassette
by Chris Spector, Midwest Review

Nothing like winning a Juno for jazz sax to make you change directions to keep from repeating your self. Teaming up with a lyricist, Miller turns his attention to left of center sunshine pop that manages to meld his interests into a heady brew that shows the apple might not have fallen far from the tree, but it has rolled away a bit. An engaging set that takes dream pop into world jazz realms and letting it simmer to craft a new taste treat.... read more

Brent Jensen with The Acoustic Jazz Quartet - The Sound of A Dry Martini
by Chris Spector, midwest record

Sax man Jensen does more than make a tribute to Paul Desmond, he gets inside the music that was inside Desmond's head and connects it all for the listener once again without this being an homage that doesn't break any new ground. Walking the fine line between tribute and exploration, he let's the music speak for itself with the quiet fire that was loaded into it all along. Hitting all the high spots in the canon without overly relying on tent... read more

Piet Verbist - Suite Réunion
by Alex W. Rodriguez, Downbeat

***
Jazz musicians know a thing or two about grueling travel schedules. Belgian bassist Piet Verbist, a veteran of two decades of jazz globetrotting, draws from the experience and gathers longtime friends for Suite Réunion, an album that exudes effervescence throughout as pieces oscillate between cool, lyrical openness and upbeat swing.

"Mygratum" opens the recording with a heartfelt and lyrical exposition for solo bass that... read more

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