Origin Records Reviews

Dawn Clement - Tandem
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

Dawn Clement both sings and plays a Monk styled piano on this post-bop session with a rotating team of Matt Wilson/dr, Michael Glynn/b, Julian Priester/tb, Jonaye Kendrick/voc-harm, and Mark Wilson/as. She gets nice and quirky with Priester on "Blues for Wayne" and a free form "Improvisation #3" while Taylor's sax gets angular on "Ablution." As far as vocal prowess goes, she gets loungy and dreamy with Kenrick on "I Think of You" and ethereal... read more

Peter Erskine & the JAM Music Lab All-Stars - Bernstein in Vienna
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)

4-STARS Here's a swinging, tone perfect, small jazz group live version of some of the gems from the Leonard Bernstein catalogue powered by Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine and beautifully arranged by pianist Danny Grissett - interesting touches include using harmonica (Bertl Mayer) as lead voice on 'I Feel Pretty'. Drummers check out Erskine's masterful touches on 'It's Love'. Great too to hear swinging guitarist Andreas Varady in... read more

John Moulder - Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit
by Neil Tesser, Jazziz

Chicago guitarist John Moulder has proven himself as versatile as he is virtuosic. He's served as producer on a handful of his own albums, and each has a strikingly different theme, purpose and array of musicians. Despite that, Moulder almost always inclines toward big picture concepts — something you could reasonably expect, given that he's spent much of his career holding a "day gig" as a Catholic minister.

Earthbound Tales of Soul... read more

The H2 Big Band - It Could Happen
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

It does happen! Who doesn't like contemporary big band when it's played right and tight with all the top LA jazz cats on board? Grabbing you right out of the gate, this super sweet session comes on like a self contained show with vocalist Rene Marie dropping by to lend a few trademark touches of her own. An air tight and water tight date that has no cracks that have to be sealed, this is as sweet as these sweet sounds get. Check it... read more

Mimi Fox - Standards, Old & New
by Ian MacGregor, Jazz Guitar Society of Western Australia

Recording a solo jazz guitar album is no mean feat and even many of the great players have declined to record a whole album solo. It takes a combination of all your technical skill, instant ideas and the bravery and confidence to execute it, and this being Mimi Fox?s third recording of solo guitar pieces it is evident she has mastered the art. Mimi impressed local audiences with her appearance at the Fremantle Jazz Festival in Jan 2002 and in... read more

Matt Jorgensen +451 - The Road Begins Here
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide

This, the debut album from Matt Jorgensen as a bandleader is something to be heard. Within, he sets out with a trio of Seattleite players (Marc Seales off of his usual piano, Phil Sparks on bass, and Rob Davis on sax) to run through works from the greats of post-bop jazz (Miles, Trane) and a number of their own compositions, as well as a stray Zeppelin number that works incredibly well converted into a space-filled jazz piece. Each of the... read more

Jordan VanHemert - Survival of the Fittest
by Editor, The Jazz Page

Jordan VanHemert's Survival of the Fittest is a compelling post-bop statement that channels personal adversity into musical resilience. Joined by an elite ensemble with Terell Stafford on trumpet, Michael Dease on trombone, Helen Sung on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums, the production crafts a sonic narrative shaped by the lead's experiences as a Korean American artist navigating cultural and personal challenges.... read more

Hal Galper - Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz'halo (Belgium)

A nostalgic dip with nostalgia for a vibrant live concert? Then this 'Live At The Berlin Philharmonic' is a recommended remedy. Recorded in 1977 with the legendary brothers Michael and Randy Brecker on the front line along with pianist Hal Galper, bassist Wayne Dockery and drummer Bob Moses.

Galper, at the time sidekick to Dave Holland and Lee Konitz, among others, just returned from three years of touring with the Cannonball Adderley Quintet... read more

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