Origin Records Reviews

Lucas Pino - No Net Nonet
by Robert Ratajczak, Longplay (Poland)

Hailing from Arizona, New York tenor saxophonist Lucas Pino for a long time was a definite attraction performing in clubs as noble as, among others, The Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Smalls Jazz Club and Dizzy's. For some time, however, he's done concerts around the world, visiting Canada, Australia and European countries (Poland could hear him, among others, in 2012 and 2014 in Poznan club Blue Note). He is an extremely active sideman,... read more

Michael Waldrop - Origin Suite
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

4-STARS Percussionist and big band leader Michael Waldrop has had a very successful relationship with composer Dr. Jack Cooper, late of the University of Memphis, Berlin, and parts unknown. Waldrop attended the University of Memphis for his master's degree (helming Cooper's Jazz Orchestra of the Delta) before completing his doctorate at the University of North Texas. Their previous big band collaboration, Time Within Itself... read more

Jaiman Crunk - Encounters
by Scott Yanow, scottyanow.com

Part of a musical family, guitarist Jaiman Crunk grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, spent years living in Europe, and is now based in Seattle. Encounters is his recording debut and it is a particularly impressive effort for Crunk, both as a guitarist and as a composer.

The personnel and instrumentation change from song-to-song on Encounters. But although many all-stars are scattered throughout the eight selections, the program has a... read more

Brad Goode - Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move

*INDISPENSABLE* If the quality of the albums we received in 2024 showed steady improvement, the offerings of 2025 have, from the very start of the year, unleashed a veritable explosion of multifaceted talent. Among these, we find Brad Goode—a trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, and prodigiously gifted composer—whose artistry shines through in this release. The music is rich, intricate, and particularly compelling in its arrangements.... read more

Thomas Marriott - Romance Language
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Showing once again that his trumpet has one of the clearest, cleanest tones extant, Marriott fearlessly changes course again showing yet another facet to his interests and chops. A reminder of just how nice this can sound when played far from the maddening crowd, Marriott and producer Joe Locke raise their flag and ask 'who needs majors?' if you want to make music that needs to be heard without notes from consultants that can't play. A... read more

Joe Locke - Force of Four
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition

Joe Locke is one busy vibes man. Between a busy touring schedule, and as probably the premier first call vibes sideman, Joe keeps especially busy recording. Recording as a leader for at least eight different labels in the last 10 years, Locke has explored many jazz genres. On his latest Origin Records release, Force of Four, Joe records with a quartet on five of the tracks and adds trumpeter and label mate Thomas Marriott to No Moe, a Sonny... read more

Piet Verbist - Suite Réunion
by Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm

Piet Verbist is far more off the radar than he should be. The bassist has a real talent for creating modern works that balance expertly between new- and old-school forms of expression. The axis of this meeting point is where deeply melodic forays and from-the-heart blues occupy the same space, unconflicted. His latest is yet another example, and well worth scooping up. Note that Bram Weijters is the pianist in Verbist's quintet; Weijters is... read more

Jessica Williams - Billy's Theme: A Tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor
by Ric Bang, The Davis Enterprise, September 14, 2006

Jessica Williams was 4 when she discovered her grandmother's piano.

By age 7, little Jessica was taking formal lessons; she soon was accepted at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory. While still in her teens, she was playing regularly with a jazz combo; by 20 she had moved to California and literally had her pick of the dozens of groups performing there.

She's a great pianist, and she also writes and arranges prolifically. Her discography... read more

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