Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Xose Miguélez - Ontology
by Rui Eduardo Paes, Jazz (Portugal)
One of the most prominent saxophonists in the Galician jazz scene, Xose Miguélez is also an expert - and a bagpiper - practitioner of the traditional music of his region, which he teaches at the Vigo Conservatory. He is also one of the present cultists of what is called "muiñeira jazz", a hybrid of Galician jazz and popular music that had its main pioneer in Alberto Conde, the same one who recently dedicated to Bernardo Sassetti the album "The... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - Winter Games
by Edward Blanco, All About Jazz
The 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy have passed into history, leaving us with many golden moments and some musical memories from composer David Foster, who wrote the Olympic theme music. German composer/arranger and bandleader Chris Walden, who has written over 400 arrangements for big band and symphony orchestra throughout his career, penned his own jazzy version of Foster's theme in tribute to the Olympics.
In a followup to his... read more
Laurie Antonioli - Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light
by Doug Boynton, Girl Singers.org
Subtitled "The Music of Joni Mitchell," right out of the box, you know it's going to be a little bit of a tightrope act. It's not like "The Music of Cole Porter," or "Johnny Mercer;" songs that have been done a bazillion times, and no one (in my demographic, anyway) can remember exactly who did the original.
On these, there's no doubt. Joni Mitchell did the original. And mostly (in my demographic, anyway), we remember how... read more
Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre - Love the Moment
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
The Latin jazz hydra presents yet another side of his skills with a second outing that flies under this particular flag. A solid serving of smoking Latin jazz that positions itself in an up market vibe, this classy set is a delightful fast ball right down the middle. Professional and well played while leaving the emotion and passion in tact, there isn't a lick on this set of originals that you won't like. A well done ear... read more
Anthony Branker and Ascent - Together
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
This is quite the achievement. This sounds like Branker's friendliest record yet. He pulls off the dandy feat of merging art and commerce making creative jazz that could leap to mass appeal. Straight ahead without an ounce of any kind of pandering, Branker leads his charges through a galloping date that really packs a wallop. With a pair of saxes leading the charge, this is everything you could want in a swinging, mainstream date that makes... read more
Zem Audu - Spirits
by S. Victor Aaron, Something Else Reviews
Many of the more progressive jazz types these days boast diverse ethnic/world music bonafides that they creatively infuse into their music that broadens the jazz vernacular. Saxophonist Zem Audu 's brand of jazz is internationally flavored, too, but he didn't get that way out of mere curiosity; he's lived that kind of life.
Born in Nigeria and raised in England, Audu made his way to the jazz epicenter New York seven years ago. Along the... read more
The Spin Quartet - In Circles
by Don Lerman, Cadence
The Spin Quartet consists of top-notch musicians who carve out an interesting group identity on In Circles. The absence of a piano or guitar from the instrumentation of two horns, bass, and drums gives clarity and an open quality to the music, aided by the fine writing from mostly band members. Trumpeter/flugelhornist Chad McCullough wrote five of the pieces, with the subdued "Oranges Are Supposed to be Orange" and bright-eyed "Haberdasher"... read more
Les DeMerle - Feelin' Good
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A while back, we met a couple that played jazz on cruise ships and it changed our opinion, moving our head away from the usual Sammy Joey jive ass bulls*** you all too often find in those situations. This cruise ship jazz crew kicks it off with a snazzy version of "Speak Low" that not only sends you off into a good time mood, it'll also change your opinion about who will be entertaining you in captive situations. Hell, even George Wein got... read more
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