Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Grete Skarpeid - Beyond Other Stories
by Bjorn Sandnes, Avisa Hordaland (Norway)
Cinderella story
The story of how Grete Skarpeid released her debut album "My Songs" at the age of 59 is almost like a Cinderella story. She and the Cuban jazz pianist Arúan Ortiz met after a concert he had played in Voss Jazz Club in Gamlekinoen. He caught sight of Skarpeid, sat down with her and wanted to talk. He invited for wine. And they talked about music. When she was about to leave, he asked:
- Do you sing?
Then he heard some... read more
Josh Nelson - The Sky Remains
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
If you hang around the LA jazz scene, sooner or later you're going to hear pianist Josh Nelson perform. He is teamed with bassist Pat Senatore a number of times, but usually he's supporting a local female singer, as he's got a great ear and sensitive touch on the ivories. His own albums have been creative feasts, ranging from lyrical bop to takes on Holt's The Planets.
This time around, he teams up with producer/guitarist Anthony Wilson to... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by Brian Vincent Pace, The Pace Report
During the mid-1950's a musical innovator was making waves in jazz music by playing the organ. Jimmy Smith had sonically taken the Hammond B-3 and played with either a quartet or trio that changed and gave way for how blues, gospel, soul, and jazz music was played forever. Although the organ trio wasn't nothing new at the time, Jimmy took what heard from his influences like Wild Bill Davis, Count Basie, and Fats Waller and did some heavy... read more
Darren Johnston - Life in Time
by Michael van Gee, Jazz 'N' More (Switzerland)
There are always surprising CDs, such as the new one by trumpeter Darren Johnston from Brooklyn with his well-rehearsed trio from Chicago. Together with saxophonist and bass clarinetist Geof Bradfield, bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Dana Hall, he plays ten very varied compositions (six by Johnston, four by Bradfield). The mix of ballads and uptempo pieces never lets you get bored or miss a harmony instrument like the piano or guitar. On the... read more
Hal Galper - Ivory Forest Redux
by Matthew Krępski, Multikulti Project (Poland)
FIVE STARS Five decades of jazz creation have resulted in Hal Galper's name, especially in the US, surrounded by admiration among jazz fans and respect among music journalists and musicians. In his work as an educator, Galper identifies himself with rare accomplishments. He is one of the founders of the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, and his concept "Forward Motion", first published as a series of articles in Downbeat,... read more
Christopher Icasiano - Provinces
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz Halo (Belgium)
The American label Origin is mainly specialized in jazz based on tradition. With 'Provinces' they radically deviate from that course. You could say a kind of "close encounters of the unknown kind". The man who is responsible for this alone: multi-instrumentalist Christopher Icasiano.
The continuously drumming drums create an uncomfortable feeling from the start. With somewhat haunting Hans Zimmer soundscapes and relentlessly dark bass... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)
4-STARS There's a sign in the water.... Great lyrics, burning rhythms, such impact in the vocal it's all there.
Much more preferable to the earlier pre-album release single of US singer Nnenna Freelon's from Beneath the Skin which was a little too "trad" for my taste, this latest unveiling from the Cambridge, Massachusetts born jazz vocals icon is a keeper and rewards frequent replay.
More progressive "going fourth" the... read more
Tom Collier - Alone in the Studio
by , Jazziz
Vibraphonist Tom Collier has nurtured twin passions for mallet instruments and the recording process since childhood. His dad, a professional trumpet player, was also a 78-rpm-recording hobbyist, and he even recorded his 4-year old son playing xylophone in 1954. The equipment, and Collier Jr.'s playing, grew more sophisticated over the years, and he recalls trying to replicate the then-experimental overdubbing techniques employed by The Beatles... read more
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