Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Marius Nordal - Boomer Jazz
by Don Lerman, Cadence
Pianist Marius Nordal provides a rare Jazz treatment of well-known popular hits from the 1960s and 1970s in this well-crafted solo piano concert. Nordal's musical interpretations are creative and lucid, while remaining faithful to melody and spirit of music from the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, Burt Bacharach, Chuck Berry, and other popular musicians from this era. Drawing upon his considerable Jazz and classical musical skills,... read more
Linda Tsatsanis & John Lenti - And I Remain: Three Love Stories
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century vocal music with lute or theorbo has been enjoying a modern renaissance as evidenced by the recent releases of Monika Mauch and Nigel North's Musical Banquet (ECM, 2008) and Nigel North's Dowland recordings for Naxos. This is period music that immediately evokes images such as those captured in Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth (William Morrow, 1989) and its sequel World Without End (Penguin, 2007). This is... read more
New Stories - Hope is in the Air
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The Seattle-based trio New Stories - with a little help from some friends, and under the producer's baton of trumpeter Don Sickler - has crafted a first rate document to the undersung bop composer/pianist Elmo Hope on Hope is in the Air.
Elmo Hope, back in bop's early days, hung with piano legends Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. According to Nellie Monk, he was Thelonious's favorite contemporary composer, though the sound presented here,... read more
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by Russell Perry, WTJU
The LaBarbera brothers are a distinguished trio. Saxophonist Pat (Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich) is a mentor to a generation of Canadian saxophonists. Drummer Joe recorded with Bill Evans, Tony Bennett and Kenny Wheeler as well as Charlottesville's Stephanie Nakasian. John LaBarbera, trumpeter and arranger wrote for Buddy Rich for years and is the leader for this date. Nicholas F Mondello wrote on AllAboutJazz, "Wes Montgomery's Grooveyard... read more
Scenes - Silent Photographer
by David Franklin, Cadence
After a decade of playing together, the trio Scenes has developed a large measure of cohesiveness. They play well individually and function at a high level as a team. Here they perform their own unique versions of Wayne Shorter's "Black Eyes," Herbie Hancock's "Chan's Song," and John Coltrane's "Resolution," along with three originals by Stowell and four by Johnson. Their own tunes are acces�sibly melodic, some of them being in conventional song... read more
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra - SRJO Live
by Jason West, All About Jazz
Like Shackleton's epic voyage of survival in Antarctica, one struggles to imagine the time, resources, social skill and organizational acumen necessary to lead a jazz orchestra. Even more mindboggling is the idea of stepping into the shoes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie or Jimmie Lunceford, transcribing their classic big band recordings, and performing them live on your orchestra's debut CD.
Yet, Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra directors... read more
Hans Teuber & Jeff Johnson - Deuce
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
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
Tom Rizzo - Imaginary Numbers
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Los Angeles-based guitarist Tom Rizzo originally released Imaginary Numbers as a self-produced offering from his website, with the title Imaginary Numbers?Guitar Plus Eight. The disc has, fortunately, been picked up by Origin Arts, joining several other notable guitarists at the label including Corey Christiansen, Larry Koonse, Mimi Fox and John Stowell. Origin Art continues to accumulate first rate guitar talent in their virtual West coast... read more
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