Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Brittany Anjou - Enamigo Reciprokataj
by Georges Tonla Briquet, JazzHalo (Belgium)
Jazz (improvisation) and Esperanto are two equal entities with a universal character for the American pianist Brittany Anjou. Hence the CD title in Esperanto (mutual love). It is not surprising that her compositions contain characteristics from all over jazz history and that she constantly switches from one perspective to the other. Swing and bop thrive smoothly alongside rock and latin. She is also a fan of both Ahmad Jamal and Stravinsky.... read more
Bobby Broom - My Shining Hour
by Dave Sumner, Wondering Sound
Following on the heels of his solid 2012 release Upper West Side Story, his first album of all original compositions, guitarist Broom returns to the Great American Songbook for his newest release. Joined by bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Makaya McCraven, this session's intimacy is matched by its warmth. There is an old-school feel to this recording, both in terms of the expression of the music and its sonic qualities, a sense of... read more
John Bishop - Nothing If Not Something
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
John Bishop heads one of the most dynamic new jazz labels, Origin Records, out of Seattle, Washington. In addition to his chores running the company, Bishop also designs some of the coolest cover art out there. Origin has released two hundred-plus CDs, garnering four Grammy nominations along the way.
Bishop plays some drums, too, co-leading a fully intregrated piano trio, New Stories, and he sits in the drummer's chair on dozens of Origin... read more
Jordan VanHemert - Survival of the Fittest
by Larry Hollis, Cadence Magazine
For VanHemert's newest recorded effort, producer Michael Dease has assembled a crack combo that should ring a few bells among regular readers. Joining the two other horns are the same names that graced Sharel Cassity's recent Sunnyside disc reviewed in the last issue of this mag. Also present is the same drummer along with Helen Sung and Rodney Whitaker rounding out the solid underpinning. The leader has a handful of discs out and while he's... read more
Chad McCullough - Dark Wood, Dark Water
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz.com
Seattle-based trumpeter Chad McCullough has assembled a North-West all-star line-up for his debut release, Dark Wood, Dark Water, mixing it up with Origin Records regulars on an inspired, modern-leaning post-bop outing.
On "Three Pillars," a silky three-horn harmony blows in like a brisk wind in the embrace of the top-tier rhythm team of bassist Jeff Johnson, pianist Bill Anschell and drummer John Bishop. McCullough and his... read more
Mimi Fox Organ Trio - One for Wes
by Thomas Houbron, Couleurs Jazz (Paris)
It's January 2023, and for guitarists, from amateurs to the very best, this is a year that cannot be insignificant...
Indeed, on March 6th of this year, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the greatest representative of the "six strings" (according to me, but I am not alone): Wes Montgomery! Every jazz guitarist has the master's work as a shepherd's star. I always thought that Django had invented jazz guitar and that Wes... read more
Tom Luer - Project Popular
by Adam Greenberg, All Music
Cross-pollination between jazz and pop music has become something of a mini-trend in the last few years, ranging from interesting fusions and covers on smaller labels up to a high-exposure Grammy for Herbie Hancock's renditions of Joni Mitchell songs. In the same vein, Los Angeles-based sax player Tom Luer reworks a handful of major hits into easygoing West Coast modern jazz on Project Popular. This is light, airy music fresh from the cafes more... read more
David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Interaction
by Fred Grand, Jazz Journal (London)
I don't think it would be unkind to describe 77-year old David Friesen as an under-sung giant of the post-bop era. Adding his considerable musical muscle to several classics in waiting from the 70s by Joe Henderson, Billy Harper and Kenny Drew, he went on to tour with Sam Rivers, Paul Horn, Stan Getz and Dannie Richmond amongst others. With the help of John Stowell and Paul McCandless he was a prime mover in a gentler and more folk-inflected... read more
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