The co-op team of Sergio Galvao/ts-ss, Lupa Santiago/g, Clement Landais/b and Franck Enouf/dr deliver 9 fresh originals. The feel is fluid and lithe, with Galvao's serene soprano on the tensile "Sans Gluten," or dancing along Landais' bass line on the lively "Rouen Donato." His warm tenor flows with Santiago's #2 pencil tone on the flowing "Traffic D'Affluence" or chomping and comping together on the mix of Memphis and Brazil during "Nao... read more
Bassist Arthur Kell puts together a two-guitar front line of Nate Radley and Brad Shepik along with drummer Allan Mednard for a pair of gigs recorded at Bar LunAtico in Brooklyn in 2022. The set is bookended with contemplative rubato of "Speculation" and closing with a more dramatic version. In between, the strings bop with delight around Kell's bouncing bass on "Haflat Zifaf", get funky on the grease lined "The Djado" and chime like bells on... read more
Technology has impacted jazz in a particularly nifty way, by allowing artists and groups to produce their own music with considerable ease. They no longer have to sell themselves to record producers, in order to make their efforts available to the buying public; they can record, manufacture and distribute their own music. As a result, we're increasingly exposed to musicians who may be appreciated in specific cities or states, but remain unknown... read more
Ben Black, whose choirboy purity is reminiscent of the sweet, fawn-like androgyny of the pre-Psycho Anthony Perkins, is about as distant as a male singer could be from the rough 'n' tumble Stigers. Technically, Black is light years ahead of Perkins, but could use some of the screen star's dramatic know-how. Still, as evidenced throughout Remembered Faces/Private Places (Origin), his voice is singularly gorgeous and ideally suited to dreamy... read more
A Hard Working Jazzman
ON and off the bandstand, Giacomo Gates fits the profile of the suave, cool jazz singer with ease. He favors stylish dark clothes for his tall, broad-shouldered frame, exudes a mixture of confidence and charm typical of a professional entertainer and casually drops hepcat slang into conversation, saying ''I'm gone,'' for instance, instead of ''goodbye.''
The unique ring he wears on the pinky of his right... read more
The four artists (Jessica Williams, Denny Zeitlin, Arturo O?Farrill, Gabriel Zufferey) who make up this quartet of splendid new solo piano recordings are careful and thoughtful in their choice of both notes and spaces. The performances collected here are clearly about expression.
In concert at Seattle?s The Triple Door, on Songs of Earth Jessica Williams? concept and technique are grand and symphonic but fall, as she rightly says, into no... read more
Bassist Jeff Johnson's first recording for Seattle's Origin Records was 1999's Free. Saxophonist Hans Teuber was there, and he was there on Johnson's subsequent Origin outings: The Art Of Falling (2001), Near Earth (2004), and Suitcase (2011). It's a relationship that has made beautiful music - mysterious and oddly sacred sounds that exude a smooth-flowing timelessness. All of these were trio or quartet affairs. Now Teuber and Johnson take the... read more
They could have titled this CD "LA Meets Seattle," as it brings together some stellar players from both those communities. Try on for size: Andy Martin, Lanny Morgan, Gary Foster, Pete Christlieb, Jay Thomas, Bill Ramsay, Bill Cunliffe, and on one vocal, Greta Matassa. Bursting with riveting big band charts and explosive solo work from all comers, the album features four standards and five originals. With the exception of one cut devoted to out... 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