Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Chad McCullough Bram Weijters - Urban Nightingale
by Herman te Loo, Jazzflits- Netherlands
The title of this second CD by the Bram Weijters / Chad McCullough Quartet is well chosen. The melodies that the Belgian pianist and American trumpeter have written are sweet-toned like a nightingale. But they are embedded in a contemporary urban context. The two leaders are sometimes shamelessly romantic, like the melody of 'Love Song' or 'Downtime', giving the immediately appealing charm of a pop song. But the successor of "Imaginary... read more
Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble - The Atwood Suites
by Frank Griffith, London Jazz News
Toronto native, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Andrew Rathbun has just released his large ensemble debut CD for Origin Records entitled Atwood Suites. Two of the three pieces, Two Islands and Power Politics are set to the poetry of the renowned Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood. Recorded in New York City in 2017, Rathbun's ensemble boasts top-drawer personnel such as trumpeter Seneca Black, trombonist Mike Fahie and Birmingham UK-based... read more
Bill Anschell - Figments
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz.com
Bill Anschell is a lot of things. He is house pianist and mainstay at Origin Arts, showing up on a wide range of projects. He also contributes to this publication, writing with grace on craft of jazz. But, late at night, he is a musical James Joyce, spinning musical thread off the top of his head. And so he does on Figments.
Recorded over a series of late nights, after practicing his chosen craft, Anschell clears his mind and...begins... read more
Scott Reeves Quintet - The Alchemist
by Euan Dixon, Jazz Views (UK)
Readers in the UK may not be familiar with the work of Scott Reeves. Indeed, until I received a copy of this intriguing recording he was an unknown quantity as far as I was concerned. Let me tell you that it turns out he is an esteemed scholar/performer recently retired from full time academic work and active on the New York scene where he performs with many better known luminaries as well as playing trombone in the big bands of Dave Liebman and... read more
Scott Reeves Quintet - The Alchemist
by Delarue, Lucid Culture, NYC
Scott Reeves got his start as a trombonist, has played a lot of big band gigs over the years and became a fearsomely good composer of jazz for large ensembles. He's put out two big band albums and both are excellent. He also has a thing for unorthodox instruments: these days, his two main axes are the alto flugelhorn and the even rarer alto valve trombone. Like so many artists during the lockdown, he found himself going through his archives and... read more
David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Triple Exposure
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
4-STARS For most, a triangle is the shape that readily springs to mind when analyzing, discussing, and/or conceptualizing a trio. There's no mistaking roles and positions, after all, when there are three clearly defined sides. A circle, on the other hand, offers no beginning, no middle, and no end. In many ways it's a better analog for a band, but only if the shape fits. Needless to say, when it comes to the musical marriage of bassist... read more
Gene Argel - Luminescent
by Tree Palmedo, Jazz Society of Oregon
Four decades into his career, Gene Argel has finally dropped his debut album. Recorded with some of Seattle's finest players, Luminescent is a bridging of Argel's original home -- he grew up in Tacoma -- and his adopted one, the island of Maui, where Argel has lived since 1982. There's a lot of catching up to do, and the album does its best to cover years of ground: some tracks are swinging, others funky, others haunting tributes to the... read more
Richard Sussman - Live at Sweet Rhythm
by C. Michael Bailey, 100 Words On...
Pianist Richard Sussman's 1979 quintet recording Free Fall made quite a splash when re-issued in 2002. Sporting trumpeter Tom Harrell and saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, the disc was a hard bop celebration. Break forward 30 years, this same band unites for a live recording at NYC's Sweet Rhythm in 2003 playing a couple of pieces from the earlier recording as well as Tadd Dameron's "Soultrane" and the standard "What's New." the result is a cross... read more
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