Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Hadley Caliman - Gratitude
by Forrest Dylan Bryant, JazzTimes
It's been 31 years since his last album, but veteran West Coast saxophonist Hadley Caliman shows he's still got chops in this brisk, joyous return. Caliman's tone has a natural, humanist sound, with a soft edge and a voicelike cadence that makes even quick-tempo burners feel uniquely personal. Joe Locke's effortlessly cascading vibe lines and Joe La Barbera's tasty, rolling drum work provide steady momentum, while Caliman and trumpeter/producer... read more
Anthony Branker & Other Ways of Knowing - Manifestations of a Diasporic Groove & Spirit
by Editor, Modern Drummer
I am always intrigued and interested when a composer or arranger leads a recording date without playing an instrument of the recording. Composer and
Musical Director Dr. Anthony Branker is one such composer, and he has created a recording inspired by voices and perspectives representing communities that have been overlooked or deemed unimportant. Branker's music is very modern and very composed, at times reminding me of the music of Andrew... read more
Hal Galper Trio - The Zone: Live at the Yardbird Suite
by David R. Adler, JazzTimes
OVERDUE OVATION
I like to pay my debts," said trumpeter David Weiss in our recent Q&A. So do I, and one of them is to pianist Hal Galper, whose jazz theory course I took at The New School for a full year (1987-88, if memory serves). You did not leave that class the same, not me at least. Now at the age of 86, Hal has been posting some longer commentaries on Facebook, often on the themes we covered that year—and we covered way more than... read more
New Stories - Hope is in the Air
by Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times
This Elmo Hope revival project exudes class. It includes cameos by seven guest musicians (most notably producer/trumpeter Don Sickler and alto saxophonist Bobby Porcelli), but is defined by New Stories: pianist Marc Seales, bassist Doug Miller and drummer John Bishop, who have constituted the best piano trio in Seattle, Wash., for 17 years.
Elmo Hope composed quirky, beautiful, unforgettable music, now all but lost in the shadows of history.... read more
Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism
by RBS Productions, Amazon
Five IMPRESSIVE Stars. Roxy Coss is a potent, facile young jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist who has twice made the vaunted Downbeat International Critics Poll in 2014-15 as a "rising star." After reading the raves over her sophomore release "Restless Idealism", I bought it and after listening several times I must heartily agree. She has great chops on both saxes: a fluid, fleet-fingered tenor sax and a soprano sax style, a fertile... read more
Marlene Rosenberg - MLK Convergence
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
C'mon, albums like this write their own reviews. Rosenberg surrounded by Kenny Barron and Lewis Nash with Chris McBride and Robert Irving lurking in the background? What else is there to say? With music informed by years of knowing each other and living now in unsettling times akin to the good old civil rights days, this is a bridge date that links the 60s and now almost without saying a word. Meaty jazz that doesn't have to be at the top of... read more
Gabriel Espinosa - The Brazilian Project
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and bassist Gabriel Espinosa gives a salute to the music of Brazil with a collection of his material that takes on the halcyon days of bossa nova and bring them up to date. He mixes and matches with a collection musicians in Roger Rocha/as-ss-fl, Josue Lopez/ts-fl, Daniel Freire/bars, Bruno Santos/fh, Rafael Rocha-Joabe Reis/tb, Andre Lopez-Felipe Silveira-Eduardo Farias/p, Giovani Malini/g, Hugo Maciel/eg Renato Rocha-Rafael Barata/dr... read more
Greta Matassa - The Smiling Hour
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Greta Matassa is something of a contemporary legend in the Northwest due to her incredible vocal skills. On this, her fourth album (at least on local Origin Records), she continues to showcase her excellent abilities. Her vocals are lilting where they should be, heavier where they should be, and she's one of the few contemporary jazz vocalists that can pull off a proper round of scatting without coming off gimmicky (as she does to good effect in... read more
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