Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Flatland - The Satellite
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
Free jazz, acid jazz. The debut album from Flatland, a trio of electric jazzers from the West Coast, is laden with thick electric guitar riffs and solos worthy of John McLaughlin, a thumping bass groove, and frenzied drumming throughout. It's a very busy album. As with other works by the trio, there are elements of free jazz and acid jazz as one would expect (including a couple of Don Cherry compositions here), as well as elements from fusion a... read more
Joachim Mencel - Brooklyn Eye
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
Polish pianist and composer Joachim Mencel finally realized his dream of life with 'Brooklyn Eye': a recording in the heart of New York with notables from the jazz scene from there, more specifically Scott Colley, Rudy Royston and Steve Cardenas.
Not that Mencel is a novice. He has been composing for film, orchestra and ballet for years and has also performed on stage or in the studio with Richard Galliano, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Terry... read more
Charlie Ballantine - East by Midwest
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The Baltimore resident and guitarist Charlie Ballantine is joined by Quinn Sternberg and Dan Weiss for these 9 Americana tinted songs that aren't short on grooves.
The shimmering guitar of "Storyteller" opens with much warmth and grace, and "Runaround" follows with Weiss' scrappy drums complementing the meticulous guitar playing.
Landing close to the middle, "Strawberry Fields Forever" is a reflective moment that also benefits from some... read more
Joe Locke - Force of Four
by Jeff Wanser, CD HotList
Vibraphonist Joe Locke has been steadily turning out recordings for many years, of consistently high quality, and this latest release is no exception. The vibraphonist and his friends present us with a variety of hard- to post-bop tunes, some gentle and floating, others wild and frenetic, but all gorgeously played. With Robert Rodriguez on piano, a great rhythm section, and a bit of spice from sax and trumpet, the ensemble works together with... read more
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Addis Ken, from Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project and it's a terrific blend of African rhythms, Ethiopian, Jewish and modern influences. Opening with Tefila, Abate Berihun sings and plays a soulful melody on sax, surrounded by the improvisational piano work of Roy Mor, David Michaeli on bass and Nitzan Birnbaum on drums. Earthy opener. One For Roy has a terrific bottom and rich... read more
Cathy Segal-Garcia - SOCIAL ANTHEMS, VOLUME 1
by Paula Edelstein, Sounds of Timeless Jazz
Social Anthems Volume 1 is an excellent rendition of protest songs covered by vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia. A child of the Sixties, Ms. Segal-Garcia sings some of the most memorable songs of social importance with exemplary new arrangements. Although these songs were mostly introduced as Folk inspired songs, Segal-Garcia's jazzy updates work really well. Joined by such stellar musicians as Anthony Wilson on guitar, Josh Nelson on piano/keyboards,... read more
Rich Thompson - Less Is More
by Tim Willcox, Jazz Society of Oregon
The Eastman School of Music's Thompson puts together a satisfying straight-ahead affair with "Less is More." Borrowing two members of Matt Wilson's "Arts and Crafts" ensemble (pianist and organist Gary Versace, an alumni of Eastman, as well as trumpeter Terell Stafford), the material does have some similarities with Wilson's modus operandi. A wonderful mix of Blue Note-era jazz standards and original contributions, "Less is More" is at once an... read more
Joe Locke - Force of Four
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Joe Locke is one busy vibes man. Between a busy touring schedule, and as probably the premier first call vibes sideman, Joe keeps especially busy recording. Recording as a leader for at least eight different labels in the last 10 years, Locke has explored many jazz genres. On his latest Origin Records release, Force of Four, Joe records with a quartet on five of the tracks and adds trumpeter and label mate Thomas Marriott to No Moe, a Sonny... read more
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