Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Debbie Poryes | Bruce Williamson - Two and Fro
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Any duo worth it's salt can bring to the table a sort of intimacy one doesn't always find in other musical settings. Poryes and Williamson have a lot going for themselves in this heartwarming performance. Williamson plays nearly everything with a reed, and Poryes is equally skilled as accompanist as she is soloist. Each contributes an original tune to the set, and the musical menu is quite varied, ranging from Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil" to... read more
Liam Sillery - Outskirts
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
On a third release for Origin's more exploratory arm OA2, trumpeter Liam Sillery moves slightly toward the realm of free jazz. The pieces are not entirely improvised, nor are they fully charted. Indeed, the band works in collective improvisation at varying levels throughout the album, exploring new phrasing ideas, exploring some off-kilter motifs and some particularly dissonant triads � la Sun Ra. Sillery himself honks his way through here and... read more
Craig Yaremko - CYO3
by Grady Harp, Amazon.com
Craig Yaremko is a dynamic performer on all saxophones, flutes and clarinets. His originals which touch on the jazz tradition while also looking forward are rife with musical adventures. Craig�s diverse musical tastes have led to performances with world-class jazz, classical, rock and pop artists, establishing himself as one of the most exciting and versatile young artists on the New York-area music scene. Through this experience, he has... read more
Adam Shulman - Here/There
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
Adam's high-flying piano leads one of those jazz experiences where once the first note is played, the music charges ahead (with vigor) and never stops! He's joined by Mike Olmos (trumpet), Patrick Wolff (alto sax), Rob Roth (tenor sax), John Wiltala (bass) and Smith Dobson (drums), and they just KICK on the splendid 6:19 opener, "Grant and Green"... if yer' not toe-tappin' & groovin' along to this by the second bar, you are NOT the jazz fan you... read more
Daria - Strawberry Fields Forever
by Michael Doherty, Michael's Music Log
Strawberry Fields Forever, is her tribute to The Beatles. There are a lot of Beatles tribute albums out there, as you know, in basically every musical genre you can think of. What Daria does on this album is focus mostly on the band's later years, with songs from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ("When I'm Sixty-Four," "Fixing A Hole"), Abbey Road ("Come Together") and The White Album ("Blackbird," "Julia," "Helter Skelter"). Apparently... read more
Charlie Apicella & Iron City - Groove Machine
by J Hunter, Nippertown
There are guilty pleasures that you duck your head and mumble about when pressed, and then there are pleasures that make you stand straight & tall and say, "YEAH, I like that! Wanna MAKE SOMETHING out of it???" For me, the latter category includes any jazz disc where electric guitar and Hammond B3 organ come together. From the moment I first heard Grant Green's 1962 Blue Note disc Grantstand (featuring Brother Jack McDuff on the B3, and Yusef... read more
Wil Swindler - Universe B
by David Kane, Cadence
Wil Swindler has produced a new CD, [Universe B], filled with sophisticated and beautiful small-big band music. I was knocked out by both the playing and, in particular, the writing. Although the music remains tonal throughout, the harmonic language is intriguingly complex while remaining utterly accessible. Swindler's writing evokes Gil Evans, with its use of unconventional instruments such as the French horn and euphonium as well as... read more
Stephen Martin - High Plains
by Kevin Rabas, Kansas City JAM Magazine
Stephen Martin has a killer new album, "High Plains." KC saxophonist, bandleader, and educator Martin spoke with JAM, revealing his influences, sound, and path as a musician as well as, for him, what comes next.
Martin spoke about the need to create, even during a pandemic, and the abundance of creative projects coming out right now, including his own new album: "Honestly, I wanted to get this (album) project out some time ago...but the whole... read more
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