Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
John Moulder - Bifrost
by Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net
Guitarist John Moulder captivated the Green Mill crowd last weekend as he performed tracks from his recent release Bifrost (pronounced "bee-frost" - see our review here) along with material from his previous albums. Moulder was backed, as usual, by longtime associate - drummer Paul Wertico. Brian Peters - who produced Bifrost played electric fretless bass and dudek, and made his live debut on acoustic bass. The talented young man... read more
Marc Seales - American Songs, Volume 2: Blues...and Jazz
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Why do you know the opening track on this set by the long time mainstay of Seattle jazz? Because it's a music file in Windows XP making it one of the most listened to pieces of jazz this side of Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown themes. With more meat on it's bones than Eno's ta da wave, he knowingly rolls out a set of mostly originals with a little reliance on Miles and Trane for a piano... read more
Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre - The Art of Latin Jazz
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
This guy is a major figure in modern Latin jazz. So, what does he do? He makes a Latin jazz album the average, two left footed gringo can relate to and love. Not too Ricky Ricardo, not too ethnic, not to street, this is a set that takes the best of Latin jazz and slides it right down the middle for a set that can even find klutzes tapping their toes along to it. A solid gateway date for the gringo too intimidated to enter the Latin jazz tent,... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Convergency
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
When a commercial musician gets the chance to show us where his heart is, something special can really come out of it. A well decorated Hollywood studio rat finally comes out with his second album a decade later and this should be a fellow Grammy nominee as well. With players he's known for up to 40 years staffing this big band, his charts are immaculate, the playing impressive and the swing is undoubtable. Class, classy and classic, this big... read more
Lower Monumental - Mayday Session
by Stephen Latessa, All About Jazz
When I was living at home, there were certain types of music that would cause my mother to knock on my bedroom door as she walked past and ask, "what are you listening to?" in a tone that seemed to wonder whether she had a reason to be worried. The Mayday Session is that type of music. It isn't particularly loud or jarring, but there are enough kinks and corners with who-knows-what on the other side of them to make the whole project vaguely... read more
Gary Hobbs - Of My Times
by Dr. Thomas Erdmann, JazzReview
Drummer/percussionist Gary Hobbs first made his mark in jazz on one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking big band albums of all time, Kenton '76 (Creative World). This little known yet highly influential and critically praised recording features the Kenton band near the end of its life. Of the three Hank Levy charts, two of them, Time for a Change and Decoupage, are brilliant masterpieces exhibiting a wealth of subtle surprise and tonal... read more
Hadley Caliman - Straight Ahead
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
The most appealing thing about Hadley Caliman, save for his very eloquent name, is his equally eloquent and understated tenor saxophone playing. Firmly in a post-Coltrane context, Caliman plays a virile and muscular tenor saxophone whose tone compels because of its carefully crafted rough edges. Straight Ahead follows up his 2008 Origin release Gratitude.
Caliman joins a ratified group of Left Coast jazz musicians who interrupted their... read more
Brad Goode - Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer
by Editor, Modern Drummer
Don't let the "polytonal" name fool you, this is a nice and pretty traditional big band with some extra-expressive soloing (that's part of the "polytonal" ingredient.) playing very nice and well-conceived charts. Most of the compositions and arrangements are by trumpeter Brad Goode and they run the gamut from inside and swingin' to slightly funky. Goode's arranging approach is where more of the polytonal aspect of the band enters, but it isn't... read more
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