Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)
4-STARS There's a sign in the water.... Great lyrics, burning rhythms, such impact in the vocal it's all there.
Much more preferable to the earlier pre-album release single of US singer Nnenna Freelon's from Beneath the Skin which was a little too "trad" for my taste, this latest unveiling from the Cambridge, Massachusetts born jazz vocals icon is a keeper and rewards frequent replay.
More progressive "going fourth" the... read more
Piet Verbist - Suite Réunion
by Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm
Piet Verbist is far more off the radar than he should be. The bassist has a real talent for creating modern works that balance expertly between new- and old-school forms of expression. The axis of this meeting point is where deeply melodic forays and from-the-heart blues occupy the same space, unconflicted. His latest is yet another example, and well worth scooping up. Note that Bram Weijters is the pianist in Verbist's quintet; Weijters is... read more
Bruce Williamson - Standard Transmission
by Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Socitey Of Oregon
Saxophonist Williamson and pianist Lande played together nearly four decades ago, but the Bay Area musicians went separate ways. Their musical connection never faded. The opener finds both players taking upbeat solos on a tune that walks back and forth between waltz and swing, Rodgers & Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was." Joe Henderson's "Mamacita" is a fun, Latin-influenced number that gives Williamson a chance to show off an angular alto... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - No Bounds
by Andrew Gilbert, San Diego Union-Tribune
At the age of 29, Chris Walden came to Hollywood to write music for the movies, but he's gained almost as much attention with his talent-packed big band, winning fans like film composer John Williams and jazz pianist John Grusin.
The German-born trumpeter and composer moved to California in the mid-1990s, looking to find work on big-budget Hollywood productions after establishing himself as one of the top young writers on Germany's... read more
Piet Verbist - Flamenco Jazz Summit: El Mar Empieza Aqui
by Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
The label writes the following lines about the album: "Forceful and mystic, with a beauty and intensity that reminded him of his first hearings of Miles, Mingus, or Monk, Belgian bassist & composer Piet Verbist was pulled into his deep study of Flamenco culture several years ago through a grant from the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. After a dozen immersive trips to Andalusia to study, perform, and develop a repertoire, Piet presented concerts... read more
New Stories - Speakin Out
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
With enough bona fides that you could easily call this trio (+ 1) The little band that could', they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release that started it all for them. A personable set that has aged well, this is a fine example of jazz for the masses where art and commerce meet with a big hug. Tasty stuff with the flair to take it another 20 years, this is solid proof that good taste is... read more
Greta Matassa - The Smiling Hour
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Greta Matassa is something of a contemporary legend in the Northwest due to her incredible vocal skills. On this, her fourth album (at least on local Origin Records), she continues to showcase her excellent abilities. Her vocals are lilting where they should be, heavier where they should be, and she's one of the few contemporary jazz vocalists that can pull off a proper round of scatting without coming off gimmicky (as she does to good effect in... read more
Alon Farber Hagiga - Reflecting On Freedom
by Editor, Distrito Jazz (Spain)
Alon Farber is an Israeli saxophonist who has just released, along with his Hagiga sextet, 'Reflecting on Freedom', making it the fourth in his career.
The Israeli jazz scene could not be more interesting, as can be seen with names like Avishai Cohen , Anat Cohen , Yaron Herman or Omer Avital, among others, or the presence of Alon Farber himself.
Whether for anthropological, sociological, or whatever reasons (and now is not the place or... read more
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