Another Morning Is your answer to the other side of funk where Jersey City is fading mythology, and space mountain is the new anthology, where Santa Cruz women prefer hair on their legs than a full body wax, where odor is an essence of nirvana.
Drummer Jorgensen has assembled a cast of Ryan Burns, keyboards, Mark Taylor saxophones, Phil Sparks, bass to further the new funk muse of yesterday, today and... read more
When CDs contain mostly or exclusively original music, I look for one primary characteristic. If I can?t find it, the CD is usually not a prime candidate for review. It?s as simple as ? a well-defined melody. If that?s old-fashioned, so be it. But I lose my sense of direction when I can?t discern a melody as a foundation for the improvisation which follows. I know nothing of Richard Sussman other than he?s probably a New Yorker (judging from the... read more
Don't be put off by the name. Intrada, composer / arranger Dave Slonaker points out, is "a musical form often composed as a prelude, overture or fanfare," one whose upbeat phrases give rise to an exhilarating curtain-raiser on Slonaker's initial big-band recording. Rest assured this is a world-class ensemble and there's no doubt whose steady hand is at the helm: Slonaker wrote every number save the standard "It's Only a Paper Moon" and... read more
Big band leader Dave Slonaker brings together a collection of some of the West Coast's top session studs to interpret his charts and tunes on this collection of mostly originals. The only cover is a velvety rendition of "I Had The Craziest Dream" that gives trumpeter Wayne Bergeron a chance to give a rich aria. Many of the tunes have an Aaron Copland type of majesty, with rich section work on the swinging "Convergency" or elegiac harmonies on "A... read more
Friesen's virtuosity brought him to prominence as a bassist nearly fifty years ago. He has remained one of the instrument's most adventurous players through a career including associations with Duke Jordan, Marian McPartland, John Handy, Denny Zeitlin, Paul Horn and other major jazz artists. This two-CD album presents him on the first disc playing his compositions on the Homage bass, an instrument he developed. On some tracks in that CD he... read more
The business of America is business, and part of that business as far as music is concerned is the tribute album. The ?tribute? concept can give prospective listeners a handle on the artist and/or a particular album?sometimes the concept can be a little shaky (a performer interpreting the songs interpreted by another interpreter, for example) or can be rock-solid and spot-on. Take guitarist Bobby Broom?his previous platter Wonderful,... read more
Trios are intimate, and magic will happen when you have one that is as in tune as the Affinity Trio. So, with that in mind, I invite you to sit back and pour yourself something sophisticated as we delve into the sonic tapestry of Affinity Trio's debut album Hindsight, released on October 20, 2023, under the illustrious Origin Records. The air is thick with anticipation and curiosity as we unspool an album born from the depths of a pandemic and... read more
"What happens in the zone, stays in the zone."
The career of Hal Galper has earned the pianist acclaim as both a performer and educator. Perhaps most importantly, it has drawn attention to his contributions to the music as a true innovator. While other pianists of his era gained more recognition, Galper sought out a career path where acclaim would be genuine among his peers and his audience, and not measured by the value of his... read more
This is just a small collection of the Origin Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect