Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra - Sacred Music of Duke Ellington
by Evan Dobbins, Jazz Radio 247
In the jazz world, recreating much of Ellington's repertoire can be a touchy subject. Some feel that what Ellington's bands created is so unique, that to revisit it would be akin to repainting the Sistine Chapel -- that some things are meant to stand alone, admired but untouched. When it comes to attempting to simply imitate these works, I would have to agree. On their recent release, Sacred Music of Duke Ellington, The Seattle Repertory Jazz... read more
Darrell Grant - Truth And Reconciliation
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition
Another jazz project with a strong message, the sixth album with the noted pianist/composer leading concentrates on honoring the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa. Grant - who has worked with Betty Carter, Tony Williams and Roy Haynes - calls this double disc his dream project. He has assembled some top sidemen and varies the 16 tracks among piano trio, quartet, quintet and settings for his vocals on some of the tracks. In addition, he... read more
Hal Galper Trio - The Zone: Live at the Yardbird Suite
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A geezer who could be forgiven for playing pretty as he thinks about checking out, label stalwart Galper is having none of that. Still a forward thinking piano man, he stands as one of the greats that could teach the young 'uns a thing or two about turning out great jazz. The recording is so in the moment that when he listened to it a few months later, Galper didn't even recognize himself playing. How bad ass is that? Solid stuff as far... read more
John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Live Beauty
by Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm
Nice live set from a sax-guitar-bass-drums quartet. Zilber's effusive attitude on sax matches well with Stowell's tastefulness on guitar. Plenty to like on this straight-ahead modern jazz... read more
Emi Meyer - Monochrome
by Misa Murohashi, North American Post
Tokyo-based singer/songwriter Emi Meyer released her first U.S. album Monochrome in September with Origin Records, a Seattle-based jazz and classical music record label. For her debut U.S. recording, Emi combines music from a set recorded in Paris with Belgian pianist Eric Legnini's French quartet, and new originals recorded in Seattle and featuring guitarist Dan Balmer and pianist Dawn Clement. Born to a Japanese mother and American father, Emi... read more
Thomas Marriott - Both Sides Of The Fence
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Recorded two years after his Origin Records debut Individuation, Marriott is back with his second Origin release, Both Sides of the Fence. What stands out about this release is the song selection, a mixture of three Marriott originals along with an impeccably well chosen six other tunes by such artists as Ellington, Corea, and Hubbard. Recorded in Seattle, with noted local players, with the addition of two special guests - present day Seattle... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Time Traveler
by Matthias Kirsch, Gina Loves Jazz (Germany)
It's her eleventh album to date and her first since "Homefree" came out back in 2010. Nnenna Freelon sounds as fresh and graceful, jazzy and soulful as ever and in most cases on her beautiful new disc, even better than ever before. Harking back to her "Listen" (1994), "Shaking Free" (1996) or "Soulcall" (2000) days when she released collections of soul classics mixed in with standards and originals, usually with style and imagination and a... read more
John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Shot Through With Beauty
by Mike Joyce, JazzTimes
Fans of John Scofield's '90s recordings should find much to enjoy on 'Shot Through With Beauty,' and not merely because the album features a new quartet led by guitarist John Stowell and saxophonist Michael Zilber personalizing two sharply contrasting Scofield compositions, "Wahasb III" and "The Beatles." The former tune boasts an arrangement with twisting harmonized lines, guitar and sax solos that shrewdly bridge R&B swagger and post-bop... read more
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