Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Shot Through With Beauty
by Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
Stowell is one of Portland's most refined jazz guitarists. He is versatile and sophisticated, along with being highly inventive. But instead of being brash like many bold improvisers, his persona is controlled and tempered. Here, with like-minded saxophonist Michael Zilber, bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis, Stowell is well within his element. Playing covers, like a nice mellow version of Dizzy Gillespie's "Alma," or a modern... read more
John Stowell & Dan Dean - Rain Painting
by Chris Lunn, Ancient Victorys
Both artists were in duos at our jazz sessions during the late 70s at The Other Side of the Tracks in Auburn. Stowell came up from Portland with David Friesen; Dean did his duo work with vibes player Tom Collier. They were both amazing musicians then and have continued to explore music with a keen inventive sense. This collection is all original tunes by Stowell that he left with Dean to develop some layered vocal. The project developed over the... read more
Florian Hoefner - Luminosity
by Ken Waxman, The Whole Note
Musically, Luminosity may be the most straight ahead of the sessions reviewed here, but it's also the one with the most varied cast. The program is eight compositions by German-born-and-raised pianist Florian Hoefner, who after a long period in New York, now teaches at Memorial University in St. John's. The quartet is completed by American bassist Sam Anning, Austrian drummer Peter Kronreif and Vancouver-raised, Manhattan-based tenor and soprano... read more
Jessica Williams - Freedom Trane
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
Pianist Jessica Williams explores the music of John Coltrane, playing compositions from various parts of his career as well as original pieces that strongly show his influence. All the familiar Coltrane characeristics are here: heavy chords, grand swirling introductions, and slowly unwinding melodies. But there are not a lot of direct takes from his most familiar pianist, McCoy Tyner. Williams' playing is based more on the rich melodic sweep... read more
Jessica Williams - Billy's Theme: A Tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor
by Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal International
This CD was designed as a tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor, the veteran jazz pianist who has been playing for 65 years now and is counted by Ms Williams as a friend. He has also booked her to play at various prestigious events and, as she puts it, they have spent time 'hanging out together for a few hours.' The music, all original compositions by Jessica, is played on a beautifully tuned and recorded concert grand and presents this particular pianist... read more
Benjamin Boone - The Poets Are Gathering
by Raul Da Gama, JazzdaGama
Charlie Parker and Steve Lacy have inadvertently cast gigantic shadows on both the instruments that Benjamin Boone just happens to play. The former, an alto saxophonist is, quite simply, one of the greatest musicians that ever lived; so great, in fact, that when listening to his inventions we often forget that it was Adolphe Sax, who, in fact, gave him the instrument on which to invent. And Steve Lacy took Sidney Bechet's "straight horn" and... read more
Les DeMerle - Hot Night In Venice: Live at The Venice Jazz Club
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A working muso for over 50 years, he knows how to give a crowd what it wants but this is an important recording for him. In the past he's seemed like an affable cat playing pretty for the people but this time around, he's more in touch with his hard hitting jazzbo side than he's shown in the past. Leading from the back of the riser, he's energized here giving something new and sharp to this collection heavy on oldies. There ain't a jive lick... read more
Zem Audu - Spirits
by Abe Beeson, KNKX - Seattle
Nigerian-born, London-raised, and now Brooklyn-based saxophonist Zem Audu is quickly becoming one of the most talked about sax players in New York. Self-taught on piano and guitar, he settled on saxophone before heading to the prestigious Trinity College of Music in London.
Early work found him playing with ska bands, so popular in the Caribbean-influenced music of England for decades. There's more than a little reggae and afro-beat flavor on... read more
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