I sometimes wonder what it must have been like, to be present at a concert given by one of the true masters. Well, I've never been lucky enough to catch bassist David Friesen in person, but - thanks to the magic of albums - I can listen to him any time I so desire. Anyone similarly lucky is blessed.
Friesen, now 74 years old, got his start with the ukulele at age 10; he graduated to the guitar six years later. At that point he was 19, during... read more
Dr. Michael Waldrop works by day as a is a Professor of Percussion at Eastern Washington University, but after hours and on weekends he leads this exciting big band, propelling it with contributions on drums and vibraphone. Apart from his career in academe, Waldrop has logged over 23 years playing drums in both jazz and classical settings, experience that surfaces throughout this recording. This is primarily a studio band but its members all... read more
In the album notes of La Proxima, guitarist Corey Christiansen writes that his primary influence for this album was a desire to further explore African- and Cuban-inspired rhythm and groove. Christiansen was helped in this project by percussionist Michael Spiro, a fellow teacher at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, and bassist David Belove and drummer Colin Douglas, and together the quartet blend contemporary jazz and Afro-Cuban... read more
The fact that John Moulder is one of the most capable mainstream guitarists in jazz is a fairly well-kept secret outside of Chicago, where he regularly gigs, teaches (at Northwestern and Roosevelt universities), and makes fine records. For unclear reasons, jazz musicians who stay in Chicago and don't move to New York often have more trouble getting on the national radar than those from cities like Los Angeles and Boston. Chicago is its own... read more
Hadley Caliman has had a long, distinguished career as a sideman, appearing on albums by Gerald Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson, Hampton Hawes, and Joe Henderson, among others, though he has had relatively sporadic opportunities to record as a leader.
His second CD for Origin indicates he may have found a regular outlet for his music, backed by the young trumpeter Thomas Marriott (who also records as a leader for the label and appeared on Caliman's... read more
Record of the Week The idea to record an album in the USA with musicians recognized there is not something particularly original in the jazz world. However, few have enough courage and determination to make their dreams come true, and even fewer musicians manage to create a musically interesting album. Joachim Mencel, who not only invited excellent musicians to work with him, which in some cases is only dependent on having a sufficiently... read more
Dawn Clement, extroverted pianist and introverted vocalist, has been embedded in the Seattle jazz scene for 20 years. Tandem, her fifth recording as a leader, is the kind of necessarily discontinuous project that often doesn't work as an album. Clement plays nine duets with five very different musicians, all based in Seattle except A-list New York drummer Matt Wilson. The tunes are also diverse: old standards, originals, a Monk, a... read more
Elegant Wandering.... A very exciting recording! Bishop is a drummer who gives you lots to listen to in textures. Weijters is a dynamic pianist, but he can be soft and subtle, too. Great bass leads and solos from Verbist as well. Mostly varied moods of original material that flows freely, but nice choices of tunes by Hal Galper, Carla Bley, and Mancini to round out the program. The interplay and connection in this trio that comes from long... 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.
Nancy Kelly - Be Cool
by Paul Abella, WDCB (Chicago)
Marc Seales - People & Places
by Paul Abella, WDCB (Chicago)
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Paul Abella, WDCB (Chicago)
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
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