Origin Records Reviews



Benjamin Boone | Philip Levine - The Poetry of Jazz
by DUNCAN HEINING, All About Jazz

5-STARS Lenny Bruce might have skewered it with his skit, "Psychopathia Sexualis." Mike Myers' mildly misogynist poet might have parodied it in the movie I Married an Axe Murderer (1993). It has been dismissed as a late-fifties fad associated with the Beats. And, yet, the desire of poets and jazz musicians to combine their art forms has proven surprisingly durable.

Sometimes, the practice is just plain embarrassing and made worse by... read more

Chris Walden Big Band - Full-On!
by Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics.org

It's been seven years since the last big band album from composer/arranger Chris Walden, the Kurt Marti Suite for big band and choir-much too long. But if it takes waiting that long for an album as fine as the newly released Full-On!, how can you complain? Los Angeles-based Walden has busied himself conducting and arranging for artists as diverse as Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall and Rihanna, and a raft of others - so... read more

Jack Mouse - Range of Motion
by Michael Cz�kus, Audiophile Online - Poland

Translated from Polish....

The American jazz drummer Jack Mouse has led a very rich musical career, having played with many well known artists on stage (or in the studio), for example, Stan Kenton, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Kenny Burrell, Bill Evans, Reeves, Sheila Jordan, Rufus Reid, John Laporte.

He's a member of the Janice Borla Group and Dan Haerle Trio with more albums released, but the appearance of his own group on disc had to... read more

Bobby Rozario - Healer
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly

Guitarist/vocalist Bobby Rozario comes across like a musical metaphysician on this album of sonic spiritual themes. The music would be described as "world", but the message is "spirit" as Rozario seems to have imbibed the guitar style and passion of Carlos Santana and melded it with his own street preaching. He brings in a roster of vocalists to convey his message, including Carlton Jumel Smith, Keith Fluitt, John James with a rotating team of... read more

Bobby Broom - Upper West Side Story
by George Colligan, Jazz Truth

I am constantly being made aware of the major holes in my knowledge: I'm pretty ignorant about opera, I haven't seen "Predator", and I couldn't explain the Bosnian War if you offered me a million dollars. And also I've decided that I'm not as up on the great jazz guitarists as I should be. I've only recently been digging Charlie Christian, and I saw Pat Martino live two summers ago. I know a little about Wes Montgomery, Metheny,... read more

Joachim Mencel - Brooklyn Eye
by Piotr Iwicki, Brullion 24 (Warsaw)

The essence of art is to find your own language as a creator. Talk to the recipient with new things, do not bore him with variations "on a theme", force him to reflect, focus attention.

This is the case with the new album by Joachim Mencel, recorded with American jazzmen from the proverbial TOP. Steve Cardenas, Scott Colley and Rudy Royston are the elite of the New York scene, and our pianist shines against the background of what they do.... read more

Todd Bishop - Little Played Little Bird
by Dave Sumner, emusic Review

Concept album that performs renditions of lesser-known Ornette Coleman tunes (except ?Lonely Woman,? which Bishop admits to including because he loves playing it, ?concept be damned.?). Bishop on drums and leading a quintet that includes a family of saxes, bass clarinet, piano & Wurlitzer, and bass. A strong recording that brings plenty of swing, fire, and blues to the Coleman compositions. Not a requirement to actually enjoy Ornette Coleman?s... read more

Benjamin Boone - The Poets Are Gathering
by Brenda Nelson-Strauss, Black Grooves

Composer-saxophonist Benjamin Boone continues his fascination with poetry and jazz on his latest album, The Poets Are Gathering. The Cal State University Fresno professor, who has released two previous collections devoted to this pairing, notes that jazz and poetry have been inextricably linked since the Harlem Renaissance. Following the tradition of artists such as Langston Hughes and Charles Mingus, who collaborated on the album Weary Blues... read more

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