Origin Records

22/11/2024

Our final release of the year, out everywhere today!
DAVID FRIESEN, 𝘈 𝘓𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛 𝘚𝘏𝘐𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘛𝘏𝘙𝘖𝘜𝘎𝘏
https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82908

"A solo virtuoso, Friesen can dazzle....but lately his work has settled into an elegant, melodic simplicity. His compositions flow like the modal music of the '70s, yet they also feel grounded..." - DownBeat Magazine

David Friesen - Hemage bass, percussion, piano
Joe Manis - soprano & tenor sax, clarinet
Alex Fantaev & Charlie Doggett - percussion
KYIV MOZART STRING QUARTET:
Olga Sheleshkova - violin
Pavlo Khmara - violin
Andrew Makij - viola
Sergey Kazakov - cello

Though a major international jazz figure for decades, it wasn't until 2015 that a tour allowed bassist-composer David Friesen the opportunity to visit his mother's ancestral home of Ukraine for the first time. Welcomed by a camera crew and introductions to pivotal musicians and cultural institutions, his journey was first documented on 2020's critically acclaimed 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺, recorded live at Kyiv's National Philharmonic Hall with the National Academic Symphonic Band of Ukraine. The ensuing pandemic and war put further plans on hold, but Friesen was able to record with the Kyiv Mozart String Quartet in October 2021, and those recordings provide the framework and soul of 𝘈 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. Adding organic percussion sounds and saxophone to his singing melodies, the album's tuneful vignettes reflect the many emotions exposed through his journey of ancestral discovery. "...a musical manifestation of the spiritual light that offers forgiveness, hope and purpose." - DownBeat

City Hall Records Challenge Records International

07/11/2024

The new DownBeat Magazine is out with the full-page Origin ad *inside the front cover(!)* and our steady climb reflected in the 89th Annual Readers Poll! Thanks to all! www.originarts.com

04/11/2024

Czech magazine Jazzport reviews the new Michael Dease/Gregg Hill Jazz project! https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82906

Americký trombonista a (od loňska) barytonsaxofonista MICHAEL DEASE vydal 20. září u labelu Origin Records nové album „Found In Space: The Music of Gregg Hill“. V jedenáctičlenné sestavě… Mic…

04/11/2024

Rest in peace, Quincy Jones....

As a producer, he made the best-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” He was also a prolific arranger and composer of film music.

30/10/2024

Jason Keiser's "Kind of Kenny" - Album of the Week on Britian's Marlbank!

A beautiful tribute to Kenny Wheeler that includes the great trumpeter and flugel player’s work plus apt tunes blended in by guitarist Jason Keiser.

25/10/2024

New release out now from OA2 Records!
JASON KEISER, 𝘒𝘐𝘕𝘋 𝘖𝘍 𝘒𝘌𝘕𝘕𝘠
https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22236

“…a heartfelt tribute to Kenny Wheeler featuring inspired, compassionate guitar soloing by the leader and John Stowell. The intricate and intuitive interplay...brings to mind the pivotal collaborations between Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie.” - Minor 7th Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Jason Keiser - steel string & nylon string acoustic guitars
John Stowell - electric guitar & baritone fretless electric guitar
Danielle Wertz - vocals
Erik Jekabson - trumpet & flugelhorn
Michael Zilber - tenor & soprano saxophones

Seeking to interpret trumpeter/composer Kenny Wheeler's music with the boundless sense of adventure and nuance needed to honor his unique writing, Bay Area guitarist Jason Keiser was particularly intrigued by Wheeler's penchant for assembling unusual instrumental configurations as he made preparations for 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘺. Teaming with the one-of-a-kind, master guitarist John Stowell as the ensemble's rhythmic and harmonic base, Keiser enlisted lyrical improvisers, trumpeter Erik Jekabson and saxophonist Michael Zilber, and vocalist Danielle Wertz, acting as a horn-like melodic voice and as a singer on Wheeler & Norma Winstone's "For Jan." "There are many young musicians who are making jazz connoisseurs sit up and take notice with their debut albums. This is the case with the guitarist Jason Keiser...." - Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)

City Hall Records Challenge Records International

25/10/2024

New release from OA2 Records! Available everywhere now!
ANDY WHEELOCK WHEE3TRIO - 𝘐𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘞𝘏𝘌𝘌𝘓𝘏𝘖𝘜𝘚𝘌
https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22235

“…an artist who will likely continue to amaze us for a long time—without too much artifice, but with precision—and who here earns a place among our 'Essential' albums for having taken us on a journey into a world that left us deeply moved.” - Paris-Move

Andy Wheelock - drums & percussion
Gonzalo Teppa - bass
Walter Gorra - piano
Special Guest: Gilad Hekselman - guitar

A rich blending of Jazz, Afro-Latin, and West African musical inspirations are at the heart of drummer Andy Wheelock's melodic and joyfully dancing compositions on this debut recording of his WHEE3Trio. While using the timbre and pentatonic offerings of the wooden xylophone-like Ghanaian Gyil as a composing tool, Wheelock pictured the inventive voice of guitarist Gilad Hekselman as the perfect addition to pianist Walter Gorra, bassist Gonzalo Teppa, and Wheelock's own drums & percussion to orchestrate the sweeping landscapes of "Finn," the intricate dance of "Your Poor Mother," or the Afro Pop-tinged street party that is "Empire." Full of joy, lift and rhythmic surprises, WHEE3Trio's debut is sure to enthuse and inspire.

City Hall Records Challenge Records International

25/10/2024

New release from Origin Records! Out everywhere today!
WESTERN JAZZ COLLECTIVE, 𝘋𝘈𝘙𝘒 𝘑𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘕𝘌𝘠 - 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘔𝘜𝘚𝘐𝘊 𝘖𝘍 𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘞 𝘙𝘈𝘛𝘏𝘉𝘜𝘕
https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82907

“Rathbun's lines dance and glide, reflecting both childlike wonder and well-honed artistry.” - JazzTimes

Greg Jasperse - voice
Scott Cowan - trumpet
Andrew Rathbun - soprano & tenor sax, bass clarinet, WX7
Matt Landon - guitar
Matthew Fries - acoustic & electric piano
John Hébert - bass
Keith Hall - drums
Special Guest: Kevin "Bujo" Jones - percussion

The Jazz faculty that Western Michigan University quietly assembled over the years is an impressive collection of internationally significant artists. Having gathered in Kalamazoo from their bases in New York, Los Angeles and Boston, the teaching colleagues became bandmates with the formation of the Western Jazz Collective, and 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 reveals the magic when time, place and happenstance collide. Offering new views into the music of saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbun, the septet of Rathbun, trumpeter Scott Cowan, guitarist Matt Landon, pianist Matthew Fries, bassist John Hébert, and drummer Keith Hall, along with the special vocalese contributions of Greg Jasperse, unveil expansive musical landscapes, rich in nuance, dynamics and texture. "...Rathbun deserves to be ranked among today's top arrangers/composers." - JAZZIZ

City Hall Records Challenge Records International

23/10/2024

Chicago!

22/10/2024

Jason Keiser introducing his new release "Kind of Kenny" on the Adult Music podcast! Available everywhere on Friday, but from us NOW - https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22236

Hello, Adult Music listeners! Here are the recordings we'll discuss in Episode 187, scheduled for October 28, 2024. Catch the podcast on Deezer, your favorite app, or at https://adultmusic.podbean.com