Thomas Marriott, a Seattle-based trumpet and flugelhorn player, assembles a top-notch band from his hometown and, supplementing it with New York vibraphonist Joe Locke for two tracks, produces a disc that will put the Emerald City on the jazz map.
Marriott not only has a signature sound individually -- tuneful during solos, lyrical even when he plays at accelerated tempos -- he achieves a group sound as well. He often forms unison horn lines... read more
With this Origin label release, the fruitful Northwest music scene continues to manifest high caliber jazz music sessions. This time it's the 8 year-old trio of John Bishop, Jeff Johnson and Rick Mandyck enhanced by guitarist John Stowell, for more than an hour of modern and progressive jazz. The play list is certainly an attractive one combining three originals with standard and jazz classics. Stowell. who worked with David Friesen for seven... read more
Since making his Carnegie Hall debut at 16 with Sonny Rollins, Bobby Broom has been universally hailed as a consummate sideman, the guitarist of choice for artists ranging from Rollins to Dr. John.
Many sidemen lead quiet lives of desperation, lacking the chutzpah to step out front with their own albums.
Not so with Broom who has ventured out before, but never with such convincing authority as he whisks through chord changes with his... read more
It's a little surprising for Seattle's Origin label, heavy on instrumentalists and local scene players, to take on a torch singer in its portfolio. However, L.A. area songstress Courtney Fortune shows stronger development than many of the average lounge singers, combining with contemporary big-band maestro Chris Walden for a number of compositions that highlight aspects outside of the standard jazz repertoire. Her self-penned "You're Starting to... read more
Recorded in Seattle, this album from one of the outstanding jazz pianists of the Pacific Northwest brings us a notable lineup of composers - Artie Shaw, Branislav Kaper, Ray Noble, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Italian jazzman Enrico Pieranunzi, and would you believe Frederic Chopin? This is a trend seen on a number of jazz releases lately - one track on the album being a straight interpretation of a classical work; in this case... read more
A product of vocally imitating complex bop solos, vocalese grew into a respectable singular art form under its most famous practitioners, King Pleasure and Eddie Jefferson. On the swinging Centerpiece, Giacomo Gates uses these two giants as touchstones and makes the genre his own.
In addition to his deep, rich tonal quality, Gates' impressive vocal arsenal includes whistling, scat and mood-inducing intros. He uses these talents to lead us... read more
A Kiss for Brazil is Kansas-bred Grammy-nominated singer Karrin Allyson's third release to feature Brazilian music (From Paris to Rio, Concord, 1999; Imagina, Concord, 2008), and her first to showcase Brazilian musicians: Vitor Gonçalves on piano and accordion, Rafael Barata at the drums, plus the acclaimed singer-guitarist and songwriter Rosa Passos. First-call New York-based guitarist Yotam Silberstein and bassist Harvie S complete the group.... read more
Piet Verbist (bs) studied at the Conservatory of Brussels, where he was taught by, among others Hein van de Geyn and Dave Holland. He played in many groups such as the Ben Sluijs Quartet, Trio Ancesthree, Jan de Haas Quintet eva But he is best known as the bassist of the Jef Neve Trio, his first CD came out on Verbist's label contour. But it is with his own group Zygomatik that he completely lost his egg can we hear an energetic mix of jazz,... 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