Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Florian Hoefner - Luminosity
by Chris Spector, Midwest Review
Furthering his dominance in the sitting down piano jazz field, Hoefner and his long time pals add a vet new kid to the mix on sax as the newly expanded four piece crew seem to assert ownership over cinematic playing that commands your full attention. Practically playing as one, weaving things so seamlessly that they get past you as you get lost in it, this is what so many other ensembles aspire to. Well done stuff with all the sounds your head... 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
Cathy Segal-Garcia - SOCIAL ANTHEMS, VOLUME 1
by Michael Doherty, Michael's Music Blog
Certain songs from the past seem to address present troubles. Or perhaps those troubles never went away. Jazz vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia presents her own renditions of a few of these songs on her new album, beginning with Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," a song that has popped up a lot lately, especially after the police's response to Black Lives Matter protests, and after authorities attacked peaceful protesters in D.C. so that the... read more
James Moody - 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005
by John Murph, DownBeat
To commemorate jazz legend James Moody's centennial birthday celebration, Origin Records releases the sanguine James Moody: 80 Years Young-Live At The Blue Note. The album captures both a March 2005 birthday party and a victory lap for Moody as he fronts a stellar and rotating cast of musicians that includes trombonist Slide Hampton, pianist Cedar Walton and alto saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera. The vibes are as relaxed... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)
4-STARS There's a sign in the water.... Great lyrics, burning rhythms, such impact in the vocal it's all there.
Much more preferable to the earlier pre-album release single of US singer Nnenna Freelon's from Beneath the Skin which was a little too "trad" for my taste, this latest unveiling from the Cambridge, Massachusetts born jazz vocals icon is a keeper and rewards frequent replay.
More progressive "going fourth" the... read more
Milan Verbist Trio - Time Change
by Eddy Westveer, Jazz Radar (Belgium)
Milan Verbist plays as if time stands still
The audience at De Singer is filled with anticipation as pianist Milan Verbist (26) hovers his hands above the keys. A soft, almost tangible intro unfolds—the title track Time Change from his new album. The audience holds its breath. De Standaard newspaper awarded his debut album four stars, and broadcaster Klara called him one of those young twenty-somethings "who will color the... read more
Anthony Branker - Beauty Within
by Richard B. Kamins, Step Tempest
I have been wanting to talk to composer and educator Anthony Branker since 2013 and the release of "Uppity", an album that addressed racism, religion, and hope. Credited to "Word Play" and released on the Origin label, the music included "Ballad for Trayvon Martin", "Dance Like No One is Watching", "Across the Divide", "Let's Conversate" and the title track. At the time, I was teaching a course that dealt with music as social... read more
Piet Verbist - Zygomatik
by Dave Sumner, All About Jazz
Zygomatik has the fiery groove of classic hard bop, but it's not that simple. There is a rock attitude to this album, and it's got a Motown sway. This is the kind of album that can be pointed to as a celebration of jazz and an album that will be liked by people for whom jazz really ain't their thing. It's an album with complex elements and modulating sounds, but which hits the ears with a seamless cohesion.
These are the characteristics... read more
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