Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Mimi Fox - This Bird Still Flies
by Andrew Gilbert, Berkeleyside
When Mimi Fox talks about visiting Joe Pass, I picture the legendary guitarist sitting lotus position on top of a Himalayan peak, a cigar tucked firmly into the corner of his mouth as he utters cryptic jazz koans.
Gruff and avuncular, Pass wasn't really the guru type, but more than any other player of his era he mastered the lonely art of unaccompanied jazz guitar, recording a series of classic solo albums aptly titled Virtuoso. Some three... read more
Dmitri Matheny - Cascadia
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4-STARS Cascadia encompasses an hour of amiable, even-tempered jazz from trumpeter Dmitri Matheny who, like several of his predecessors—Chet Baker, Chuck Mangione, Guido Basso and his mentor, Art Farmer, among them—focuses exclusively on flugelhorn (that and his alert and able-bodied quintet). Matheny uses his gorgeous tone and remarkable lyricism to paint exquisite portraits in sound throughout a program whose ten engaging numbers... read more
Tito Carrillo - Urbanessence
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The seasoned trumpeter and composer Tito Carrillo returns with a sophomore album, where he explores the distinct energy of city life along with Troy Roberts (sax), Ben Lewis (piano), Clark Sommers (bass), Jay Sawyer (drums) and Victor Gonzalez (congas).
"Momentum" starts the listen with a lively energy, where bright brass and frisky drumming help make for a very flowing climate, and "Fire & Ice" follows with a calmer pace of warm keys and... read more
Laurie Antonioli - Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light
by Mike Jurkovic, Elmore Magazine
Tribute records come and go, all but a few failing their vaunted goal. Sound-alike's abound: rote country versions, routine roots variations and strident schizo-genre adaptations. Gratefully, Antonioli's nod to Joni Mitchell, Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light is brazenly infused with the fearless creativity that we, and she, salute Ms. Mitchell for time and time again.
Though none of these 13 songs postdate 1975, Antonioli, an... read more
Tom Collier - Mallet Jazz
by Harvey Siders, Jazz Times
Imagine a front line of vibes and marimba-truly mallets in wonderland. On Mallet Jazz (Origin), Tom Collier, percussion-studies director at the University of Washington, and tireless L.A. session man Emil Richards switch between both instruments, backed by bassist Dan Dean and, variously, pianists Mike Lang and Don Grusin and drummers Joe Porcaro and John Bishop. Brubeck alumnus clarinetist Bill Smith makes a guest appearance.
All the tunes... read more
Josh Nelson - Exploring Mars
by Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics.org
Pianist-composer Josh Nelson's follow-up to his 2011 science fiction-inspired album Discoveries, Exploring Mars delivers everything you would expect from an album with that title. Taking inspiration from actual science as well as science fiction, Nelson takes the listener along on a journey of musical exploration of variations on his Martian theme. There are tracks devoted to the exploratory rovers. There are tracks devoted to Martian... read more
Jordan VanHemert - Deep in the Soil
by Jean-Michel Schlosser, Couleurs Jazz (France)
Jordan VanHemert, multi-ring blower, usually on tenor, substitutes alto here (he also plays soprano, clarinet and flute), and appears as a sextet with, it has to be said, a line-up of exceptional class.
Our Korean-American saxophonist has already performed alongside Dmitri Matheny, Geri Allen and Rodney Whitaker, and this latest release marks his fifth album as leader.
From the outset, we're treated to an edgy, hard-bop jazz style, with... read more
Upper Left Trio - Cycling
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
From the Portland-based Upper Left Trio comes Cycling, a worthwhile debut album. The trio consists of the most basic lineup, with Clay Giberson on piano, Charlie Doggett on drums, and college music professor Jeff Leonard on bass. The sound covers the regions of contemporary jazz and some mainstream jazz sounds, equally fit for jazz radio and smooth jazz radio. It's a relatively light affair, with the compositions all being originals from the... read more
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