Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Clay Giberson - Pastures
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
As I listen to Clay's superb jazz piano work (for the third time through the album now), one word comes to mind - POWERFUL! His strong style first enchanted my ears in issue # 162, and he got (very) high marks from me on that release as well (in fact, I went back and listened all the way through that album, too - as I often do with jazz players who exceed all expectations). On this (even better) release, he's joined by Donny McCaslin on... read more
Brent Jensen / Bill Anschell / Chris Symer - Blueprints
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Get those atavistic genes out of the back of the closet and wear them proudly for this spiritual journey through the past when cats like Jimmy Guiffre would make dates under their own name that would sound nothing like their work for others but would take creativity to some place else. The original sax/piano duo adds a bassman to bring the color and the result is a grand uber hipster set of daddio jazz that should have included a download card... read more
Greta Matassa - Portrait
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
4-STARS Greta Matassa has made choices in her career that have sacrificed some visibility in exchange for lifestyle. Yet the Seattle based vocal artist has established herself firmly as one of America's finest singers, and one of the best that jazz has to offer in the new century. To this point, the jazz public at large had not heard from Matassa in 5 years, since her last solo release for Resonance Records, "I Wanna Be Loved"... read more
Collier & Dean - Duets
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition
Speaking of duos, here's another one you don't run into every day. Collier started his career early, playing the marimba on the Lawrence Welk Show at age 9. Tom and Dan's families ended up in Seattle, where the two began performing and recording together. Later at the U. of Washington Tom met and worked with clarinetist Bill Smith, heard on many Dave Brubeck recordings. Bringing in Dan on bass made the Bill Smith Trio. Both also spent time in... read more
Thomas Marriott - Constraints & Liberations
by Peter Walton, Earshot Jazz
Released in November, Constraints & Liberations is trumpeter and flugelhornist Thomas Marriott?s second release of 2010, and it is his most satisfying disc to date. Marriott leads his quintet of saxophonist Hans Teuber, bassist Jeff Johnson, percussionist John Bishop, and pianist Gary Versace through seven original compositions, including Jeff Johnson?s ?Clues.? Hailed in Paul de Barros? liner notes as Marriott?s breakthrough album, Constraints... read more
Alain Mallet - Mutt Slang II: A Wake of Sorrows Engulfed in Rage
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
The art of jazz would seem to be a mystery to most, and at the same time, a language understood by many. In the entirety of its history, it has served as a central location for idiomatic change, a virtual jumping off point for explorative ventures into both new and traditional world forms. The wide lens of the music of pianist/composer Alain Mallet mirrors in a way, the large embrace of all humankind necessary globally to build a meaningful... read more
Jon Hamar - Hymn
by Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz
Seattle bassist Jon Hamar's third release as a leader is an intimate and collaborative effort. The textured harmonies with hints of western Classical influences that are heard on his prior CDs have further matured on Hymn, thanks, in no small part, to his choice of sidemen.
Reed multi-instrumentalist Todd DelGiudice (a past collaborator who sticks to alto throughout this record) takes an approach inspired by saxophonist Charlie Parker on the... read more
New Stories - Hope is in the Air
by Larry Nai, Cadence
The New Stories trio - pianist Marc Seales, bassist Doug Miller, and drummer John Bishop - flies both alone and special-guest-augmented on this bracingly fine tribute to pianist Elmo Hope. One of the most tragically fascinating figures of the Bop family, Hope's highly percussive, nervous keyboard style is less imitated than intimated here by Seales, who shows an obvious kinship with the 14 compelling Hope compositions performed. His exciting... read more
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