Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Olivia Peeva, Jazz Blues EU
I'll begin this article with a brief statement: what follows is about an artist whose album I consider the best jazz and jazz-pop record. Her unique voice and poignant, emotional style of singing have made her a well-known and highly respected artist in Europe and around the world.
If you listen to all of Vienna vocalist Maja Jaku's recordings, it's easy to notice that from album to album her songs have become more beautiful, deeper, and... read more
Brad Goode - Chicago Red
by Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
Though trumpeter Brad Goode left Chicago in 1997 for Cincinnati and then Boulder, where he now teaches at the University of Colorado, his identity remains tied to this city. He titled his newest album "Chicago Red" (Origin Records) and over the weekend celebrated its release in the room where he had built the early chapters of his career: the Green Mill.
Or perhaps Friday night's show was less a celebration than an observance, for the... read more
Phil Kelly - Ballet of the Bouncing Beagles
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Following Phil Kelly's last big band effort for Origin Records, Convergence Zone, which earned a Grammy nomination, the Bellingham, Washington resident is back with Ballet of the Bouncing Beagles. Phil, who formerly did arrangements for the Tonight Show band, wrote (with the exception of Limehouse Blues), produced, and arranged all the tracks on this CD. The majority of the band is from the Northwest with the exception of legendary... read more
John Gunther - Painting the Dream
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
This is a very artsy jazz project. First, the cover of this album is stunning and painted by John Gunther's talented mother, Judy Gunther. All the music is composed by John Gunther and enhanced by Dawn Clement, whose vocal additions are both unique and beautiful. She is also the creative pianist of this trio, adding electronics. Dru Heller is the timekeeper on both drums and cymbals. You can hear their direction and uniqueness on the very... read more
Brent Jensen with The Acoustic Jazz Quartet - The Sound of A Dry Martini
by Michael Bettine, JazzReview.com
Review: The title of this CD paraphrases what the late saxophonist Paul Desmond said he wanted to sound like. Idaho based Brent Jensen creates not so much a tribute album (which seem to be in vogue these days) as he does an album that captures the same essence that Desmond had.
Neither a hip bopper, nor a cool West Coaster, Desmond often seems to fall between the cracks of American jazz history. Best known for his long association with... read more
Jeff Johnson - The Art of Falling
by Jon Davis, Expose
Bassist Jeff Johnson is one of the regulars in the Origin Records stable, and these two releases see him as leader, first of a trio with drummer Billy Mintz and reedman Hans Teuber, then with a quartet, adding pianist Randy Porter. Most of the selections on both are Johnson originals, with a few covers (Wayne Shorter, Henry Mancini, even Glenn Miller) thrown in. Johnson seems to favor a relatively free setting, using the composed tunes as... read more
The Spin Quartet - In Circles
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
**** 4-STARS - 2014 has been a stellar year for jazz quartets working without chording instruments - two horns, bass drums, no piano, no guitar. Trumpeter Tom Harrell released the marvelous a very groove-based Trip (High Note Records); a somewhat old-timey sounding Riverside (Greenleaf Music), featuring trumpeter Dave Douglas; the smoldering and hypnotic The Lathe of Heaven (ECM Records) by the Mark Turner quartet.
Add to the list The... read more
Tom Collier - Alone in the Studio
by Tom Morgan, Percussive Notes
Tom Collier has always been interested in recording music. This is obvious when one reads the liner notes to this excellent CD. As the name implies, Alone in the Studio is all Tom Collier playing vibes, marimba, piano, drums, and synthesized bass. He takes all of is past experience in the studio and creates performances of 11 tunes full of variety and musical interest.
The first two tunes, "Little Green Things" and "Lines," are... read more
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