Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Daniel Jamieson's Danjam Orchestra - Sudden Appearance
by John Terauds, Toronto Star
Here's something for the adventurous listener. To hear the state of-the-art in big bands, check out sax player-composer Daniel Jamieson's eight-track debut CD with his 20-strong Danjam Orchestra. There are signature big-band riffs on each track, but the bulk of the music, which ranges from the noodlings of free jazz to the drive of hard bop, tells its story without a firm tonal centre and certainly without conventional pairings of instruments.... read more
Carrie Wicks - Maybe
by Hobart Taylor, KUCI, Irvine, CA
The original tunes on this disc are all revelations. Written by Wicks and the web elusive Ken Nottingham, (is he the Seattle Bluegrass musician?), the songs display musical and lyrical sophistication of the highest order. If you attached a name like Bacharach or Richard Rodgers to them you would not be surprised. I don't believe this is hyperbole. These songs are smart earworms and authentically earnest. "Watercolor Rhyme" has a melody always... read more
Jun Iida - Evergreen
by Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe
The bio of multi-talented emerging jazz trumpeter Jun Iida reads a bit like a freewheeling cultural and geographic travelogue, with a foundation of classical and music from his Japanese heritage and location shifts throughout his life from his hometown of St. Louis to Pittsburgh, Seattle, Cleveland, Los Angeles and now NYC.
Perhaps one of his most creatively fruitful eras was the years he lived in LA, where he pursued his jazz ambitions... read more
Liam Sillery Quintet - Minor Changes
by Pedro Caesar Beas, Dijazz
After to have created Origin Records, the original musicians of Seattle, John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen they gave form him to seal OA2. A company interested in producing, distruibuir and to promote to independent jazzistas.
One of the musicians who are part of OA2 is the trompetista of New York Liam Sillery who with his quinteto has published the disc Minor Changes . A work that transports us to the best time of the Messengers Jazz and that... read more
Debbie Poryes - Loving Hank
by Andrew Gilbert, The Berkeleyside
A longtime faculty member at the California Jazz Conservatory who also teaches privately, Poryes has released a number of albums focusing on her beautifully crafted original compositions. On the radiant "Loving Hank" she alternates between thoughtful arrangements of pop songs (Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now"), bebop anthems (Charlie Parker's "Confirmation") and standards (Vernon Duke's "Autumn in New York") with lyrically charged originals like... read more
Randy Napoleon - Puppets - The Music of Gregg Hill
by Joe Ross, Roots Music Report
Guitarist Randy Napoleon plays with precision and delicacy as he and his sidekicks present music from Michigan jazz composer Gregg Hill. Following their 2019 collaboration on Brothers, Napoleon's vision for this latest project was to team up with vocalist Aubrey Johnson for a sweetly blended sound. Napoleon emerged as the lyricist for "Puppets," "The Unknown Ballade" and "Wide River," while Gregg Hill's lyrics are sung to the "Truck Driver's... read more
Florian Hoefner - Songs Without Words
by Tim Willcox, Jazz Society of Oregon
German pianist Hoefner offers up an interesting set of originals on this excellent quartet outing. From the first flurry of notes over the rubato intro to "Cross Hill," you get the feeling that this isn?t going to be a typical straight ahead affair. The album is full of beautiful compositions like this.
"Uncertain Times" is an arresting, note-filled Kurt Rosenwinkle- esque jaunt in 5/4, and while there's a whole lot going on during the melody,... read more
Michael Kocour - Wherever You Go, There You Are
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene
Pianist Michael Kocour spent about two years working with the late legendary saxophonist James Moody. That alone on a resume would be enough to raise the eyebrows of any jazz fan in-the-know. So, why the heck have I not heard from him on his own until now? Go figure, but on this solo effort, he is the picture of lyricism, graceful touch, and (when called for) major league chops. It is an all solo effort for Kocour and he impresses on an array of... read more
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