Joachim Mencel is an experienced pianist and composer, a respected arranger and producer of vocal music. But he is also the author of many interesting music projects, the most important of which is certainly the jazz cantata "Love explained everything to me" (for jazz combo, string orchestra, boys' choir and soloists), cooperation with the English violinist Nigel Kennedy, concerts with the American clarinetist Brad Terry. The original projects... read more
5 STARS
Hometown - Jared Hall's Intimate Cartography of Sound
A monochrome album cover sets the tone: understated, almost austere, yet quietly evocative. From the very first notes, the trumpet enters not as a declaration but as an invitation, its sound warm, deliberate, and imbued with a sense of modernity that feels rooted as much in ideas as in tone. It is the kind of opening that lends itself perfectly to the... read more
Poetry is delivered in a variety of bohemian settings as saxist Benjamin Boone teams up with a rotating rhythm team as well as guests on this clever and Beat Generation session of the 21st Century. Craig Von Berg contributes Vince Guaraldi-styled piano for "Making Light of It" while cool bop tones are formed for Levine on "Gin." Chris Potter brings his warm tenor for some bop flavored narration on the sleek "The Unknowable" with Branford... read more
Throughout his five decades in jazz, bassist Harvie S has grown from a solid, swinging timekeeper into a musician who has earned his place in the foreground. Like his key inspiration, Bill Evans's early bassist Scott LaFaro, he has turned the bass into a melodic instrument, full of expressive possibilities. He colors his sweet tone with slides, growls, wit and drama, while phrasing like a singer: a flair he absorbed, no doubt, from his long duo... read more
The post bop quartet of Chad McCullough/tp-fh, Geof Bradfield/sax, Clark Sommers/b and Kobie Watkins/dr do some impressive work with clever and sophisticate originals. Without a piano as a safety net, the two horns weave in and out of unison like a high wire act, almost but never quite falling over as Sommers keeps things together on "Little Marionette" and "Simple Song." A hint of "All Blues" supplies the base for a yearning... read more
Shawn Purcell's Oblivity is a natural continuation of his previous work and a marked expansion of his compositional vision. Having long established himself as a first-call guitarist in Washington, D.C. and beyond, Purcell now offers a set of ten originals that frame his artistry with clarity. The elegance of Purcell's writing, the fluency of his playing, and the intuitive chemistry of a first-rate ensemble make this album a true find.
At the... read more
On November 11 and 12, 2005 drummer Les DeMerle and his band recorded a two-session live performance at The Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina, producing his fourth and fifth recordings, Cookin' at the Corner, Volume One and Volume Two for Origin Records. Recording a total of thirty songs, Volume Two represents the second half of this project.
As with the first session, this follow-up release features vocalist and wife, Bonnie... read more
The guitar man takes a steep left turn here as he wraps up his jazzy Americana trilogy with original tunes that seem to take smooth/summer jazz into some dark corners where there's a jazzy impression of southern gothic lurking around the next turn. There's a solid little history of modern jazz here lurking in the twists and turns that gives it the extra special sauce that really brings it together. Sharp, original work that grabs the... 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.
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Kev Rowland, ReZonatZ (UK)
Gabriel Espinosa - The Brazilian Project
by Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
Andrew Kim - Lineage
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Shifty Paradigms
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Ben Patterson - Stretch
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Gabriel Espinosa - The Brazilian Project
by Pablo Iván Argüello , El Heraldo de Mexico
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Mark Ruffin, My Jazz Life
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Richard Kamins, Step Tempest
Gabriel Espinosa - The Brazilian Project
by Navya Dixit, Lemon Wire
Mattias Svensson - Embrace
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect