A trio of Swiss jazzers here combine for a series of entirely improvisatory jazz built in theory around a theme. That said, the theme is also unknown. The goal is to make improvisatory music while creating a theme by way of its variations. By circling in from the outside, the core form will eventually become clear. The players all perform well on their respective instruments, in a basic piano trio (with an occasional outburst of bugle). The... read more
HOTBOX FEATURE
Courageous redecoration often is a valuable stance when updating classics. I'd never imagined Antônio Carlos Jobim's "Waters Of March" as a shuffle until spinning this salute to the maestro's book by flutist Andrea Brachfeld. The signature esprit of Brazil's samba/bossa nexus gets its due, but a feisty groove dominates her band's rendering, and by the time they reach full speed, the March of the title is more "in like a... read more
Mallet percussionist Tom Collier finally educates listeners on the difference between the vibraphone and marimba: it is the sound. These mallet-driven instruments make a great alternative to the piano, both in solo and ensemble settings. They are rich instruments, the vibraphone with its resonant presence and the marimba with its organic woodiness. Mallet Fantastique houses six extended compositions for mallets that Collier recorded between 2004... read more
Excellent music can come from construction and deconstruction equally. That seems to be the main point to be proven by saxophonist Richard Cole's Inner Mission. A number of original numbers build from the ground up here, forming a complex sound from primary elements in combination with co-writer and pianist Bill Anschell. At the same time, classic pieces are deconstructed, taken apart by the riff or the note to barely recognizable parts... read more
A crowd funded Latin jazz vocalist funded by a crowd that knows their apples, if this feels like a Brazilian record that you just can't put your finger on, it's because she's from Honduras and the crew is playing with pan Caribbean chops. It might not be Brazilian, but it has all the sound and feel of the Brazilian jazz vocal set you've been jonesing for lately. Killer stuff throughout from an international star that really needs to plant a... read more
Listening to Found in Space: The Music of Gregg Hill is akin to stepping into an astral observatory. It's an expedition of sound, and at its helm are the genre-bending compositions of Gregg Hill, shaped into a constellation of creativity by trombonist Michael Dease and his dynamic ensemble. Dease serves as the captain of this vessel, but the true gravitational force here is Hill's writing imagination—a strength that beckons listeners into jazz... read more
4 1/2 STARS Jazz trios featuring a horn, bass and drums get right to the core of musical expression. With, most commonly, a saxophone—see Sonny Rollins' blueprint for the horn and trio setting, the 1957 Contemporary Records album Way Out West—the music flows freely. The player do not need to chase chords around. The result is a stretching of the melodies with freewheeling rhythmic finesse.
Trombone, bass and drums outings are... read more
Zurhub is an Israeli-American quintet formed in 2017 by flutist Mattan Klein and guitarist Ezequiel Hezi Jait. On Countryside Motorways, the group's impressive debut recording, they are ably supported by pianist Itay Simhovich, bassist Assaf Hakimi and drummer Dani Benedikt.
The album consists of a dozen original compositions, five by Klein, four by Jait, and three co-written by the duo. The music is invariably bright and pleasant,... 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