Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Ben Thomas Tango Project - The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle
by George Harris, Jazz Weekly
Playing bandoneon as well as vibes and percussion, Ben Thomas takes the ideas of Astor Piazzolla to the next level with a mix of sophistication and warmth on this album of originals. Teamed with Eric Likkel/cl, Ste4ve Schermer/b, Laura Coronel-Elizabeth Phelps/vi and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues/p Thomas puts the "nuovo" in "Tango Nuovo" with the fingers prancing on the dramatic "The Second Brick" and creating eerie long shadows on the visceral "Valley... read more
Mimi Fox - Standards, Old & New
by Jason Bivens, Cadence
This terrific, unpretentious solo recording bears some comparison with fellow guitarist Eric Hofbauer's recent solo reading of Americana. But Fox's bright, uncluttered, unvarnished archtop playing is more clearly in the lineage of Jim Hall and Joe Pass. She marries this approach with a number of familiar and unexpected pieces, brought together by her assured and impassioned playing in a concise and rewarding set. The Guthrie tune starts out... read more
James Moody - 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005
by Tom Hull, Tom Hull On the Web
Bebop saxophonist (1925-2010), mostly tenor, also played quite a bit of flute, joined Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 and was a regular in his various bands, while he established his own career with "Moody's Mood for Love" in 1952. He opens this 80th birthday bash singing "Benny's From Heaven," badly at first but so infectiously he won me over. He opened with a solid band -- David Hazeltine (piano), Todd Coolman (bass), and Adam Nussbaum (drums) -- then... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Convergency
by Troy Dostert, All About Jazz
4-STARS Composer/conductor Dave Slonaker probably won't qualify as "prolific," at least based on recorded output alone, as he spends a lot of his time behind the scenes in film and television work—but one must appreciate the level of craftsmanship that he brings to his big band projects. His debut release, Intrada (Origin Records, 2014), received a well-earned Grammy nomination, and his sophomore effort is no less accomplished, with... read more
Greta Matassa - Portrait
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Away from recording for almost a decade, this regional winner with a worldwide reach (when she wants it) shows how classic jazz vocal is done right. With a great eclectic sense of material, Matassa knows how to dive into every note and find even more than was put there originally. A real pro that's glad to do all the heavy lifting so you can sit back and listen, you might as well let her carry out this agenda to the max. Hot... read more
Joe Locke - Subtle Disguise
by Editor, JazzTimes
JazzTimes Track Premier Locke is joined on "Subtle Disguise" by guitarist Adam Rogers, keyboardist Jim Ridl, bassist Lorin Cohen, and drummer Samvel Sarkisyan. Elsewhere on the album, there are appearances by guitarist/singer Raul Midón, alto saxophonist David Binney, and singer Alina Engibaryan. Seven of the album's nine tracks, including the title cut, are originals; the two remaining songs are Bob Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?"... read more
Geof Bradfield - melba!
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Armed with some arts council money, curiosity and a good attitude, Bradfield set about digging into the works of Melba Liston, an arranger from back in the day who has generally been overlooked because she was a girl despite her contributions to jazz, Motown and island music. Bradfield composed all the sitting down jazz on board here trying to serve as a tour guide into the spirit of her sounds. Clearly one of those records that demanded to be... read more
Brent Jensen - More Sounds of a Dry Martini
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
So it only took the sax man 20 years to do a follow up to his tribute to Paul Desmond. You want him to repeat himself too much or something? A delightfully classic after hours set of another heaping helping of Brubeck standards with the Desmond touch, this sitting down/thinking man's jazz outing hits all the right notes and then some. Because all the songs are familiar, it plays like comfort food from the right bistro. A swinging, tasty... read more
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