Drum mastermind Peter Erskine gives a salute to two Austrian music film composers that dominated the Golden Age of movies, namely Max Steiner and E.W. Korngold on this album that mixes jazz with string. A rich mid sized combo of Herwig Gradischnig/sax, Thomas Gansch/tp, Bertl Mayer/harm, Bob Sheppard/fl, Judd Miller/EVI, Andreas Vardy/g, Danny Grissett/p-arr, Thatiana Gomes-Fabricio Pereira/b, Flip Phillip/perc-vib, Brian Kilgore/perc and... read more
Mallet percussionist Tom Collier finally educates listeners on the difference between the vibraphone and marimba: it is the sound. These mallet-driven instruments make a great alternative to the piano, both in solo and ensemble settings. They are rich instruments, the vibraphone with its resonant presence and the marimba with its organic woodiness. Mallet Fantastique houses six extended compositions for mallets that Collier recorded between 2004... read more
Trumpeter Thomas Marriott joins alto saxophonist Mark Taylor, pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer (and Origin label head) Matt Jorgensen on this solid, cooperative live album. Marriott and Taylor make a formidable frontline on such modernist fare as Jorgensen's turbulent "Ridgecrest," Marriott's uptempo "Song for Samuel" and his blistering hard-boppish romp "Pelham Gardens." The band settles into a soulful groove on... read more
You can't blame Chris Walden for taking seven years to issue another CD. He's so in demand that the guy barely has time to change socks before flying off to front another gig, score a movie, contribute tracks to a TV series, or arrange for any of a panoply of big names: Paul Anka, Christopher Cross, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Michael Bolton, Nancy Wilson, etc. With Full On!, the delayed follow-up to 2007's Kurt Marti Suite... read more
The inimitable composer and director Anthony Branker enlists some excellent musicians for this 9th album on the Origin label that is actually a reissue of his 2006 debut for Sons Of Sound Records.
The 7 minutes of "Chant For Peace Eternal" opens the listen with Jonny King's fluid piano and flowing sax from Ralph Bowen and Antonio Hart for the graceful jazz presence, and "Parris In April" follows with a dreamy demeanor that uses John... read more
Tom's stellar vibraphone work leads the pack here, with electric guitar from Bill Frisell, electric/acoustic guitar from Larry Coryell, electric bass & electric guitar by Dan Dean, drums from John Bishop and (also) drums by Ted Poor... he got high marks from me in issue # 159, and totally solidified my impression of his mastery with this new all-original release. No question I'll be slidin' up to Seattle to watch him play live (since he's "just... read more
EDITOR'S PICK Many jazz composers count Duke Ellington as a major influence. But for trombonist Nick Finzer, Ellington was more like an impetus. Finzer first became interested in jazz after participating in the Essentially Ellington competition as a high schooler, in which jazz ensembles perform Ellington compositions for adjudication. The competition sparked a lifelong infatuation with the art of composing, and Finzer later... read more
3 1/2 STARS Young tenorman Lucas Pino has led a monthly residency at Smalls Jazz Club with his smart nine-piece ensemble since March 2013, which explains why the band sounds so tight and cohesive on its self-titled debut, No Net Nonet. Out of the gate, the band navigates blistering, breakneck lines with hairpin precision on opener "The Fox," which features well-articulated serpentine runs from the leader followed by a more spacious... read more
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.
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