PAUL WEST, A SEATTLE ICON.

From the Seattle Times

Paul West, an ebullient pianist, singer and humorist who entertained several generations on Seattle’s lounge scene from the 1950s forward, passed away December 19th.

He was 76. The cause was prostate cancer.

Though Mr. West worked much of his life as an advertising man by day, he played music by night. He was probably best known for his ’70s trio BLT — Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato — featuring bassist Rolf Johnson (son of well-known Seattle architect Sig Johnson) and vocalist Gail Clements.

Paul West recorded several albums for Origin and OA2 Records. Learn more, and hear sound clips at his artist page.

DEEP BLUE ORGAN TRIO FEATURED ON NPR

UPDATE: Wonderful! hits #1 on JazzWeek Airplay Chart

Wonderful!, the new release from Deep Blue Organ Trio, is the subject of a Kevin White review on NPR's All Things Considered.

Deep Blue Organ Trio is a Chicago institution; it's been together since the early 1990s, and for the last eight years, it's held forth at Uptown's Green Mill Tavern most every Tuesday night. The trio's new album Wonderful! is devoted to Stevie Wonder tunes.

Click here to read/listen to the review from NPR.

CUONG VU Q&A IN JAZZIZ / ORIGIN DOUBLE-REVIEW ON ALLABOUTJAZZ.COM

Trumpeter Cuong Vu is featured in the new issue of Jazziz talking about his recent release on Origin Records, Leaps of Faith.

Also, AllAboutJazz.com has a double-review online featuring Cuong's Leaps of Faith and his 2010 release with Speak.

For more information, check out Cuong Vu's artist page on Origin.

2011 JAZZWEEK AWARDS - ROCHESTER, NY

For the fifth year in a row, Origin Records was nominated for JazzWeek's "Label Of The Year" at the JazzWeek Summit in Rochester, NY. Though we (proudly) came away as second fiddle to Manfred Eicher's legendary ECM label, we're extremely humbled and gratified for the support from all the radio programmers, jazz writers, musicians and industry people who participate and would allow us to appear in such great company. For the "Label with the Most Spins," Origin & OA2's 22,000 reported radio plays made us the 2nd most played label on American Jazz Radio in 2010, right behind the Highnote/Savant label. Thanks to JazzWeek for all the work they do and congratulations to the whole Origin/OA2 community!

LIAM SILLERY AT THE NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL

With a recent 5-star Downbeat review in hand for last year's Phenomenology, New York trumpeter Liam Sillery hasn't had a chance to rest! His new album Priorite is receiving play around the country and he and the band will be taking off for the Netherlands this week for their first-ever appearance at the North Sea Jazz Festival.

JOSH MOSHIER & MIKE LEBRUN ON NPR'S JAZZSET

On May 12, Chicago's Josh Moshier and Mike LeBrun appeared on NPR's Jazzset with music from their new project "Touch and Go: The Studs Terkel Project." Composed by Josh Moshier, the music was created with support from Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation & Presentation Program. To see the performance, live from Chicago's Jazz Showcase, click here.

Origin / OA2 Records artists at the 2011 Golden Ear Awards

Each year Earshot Jazz recognizes outstanding members in the Northwest jazz community with a wonderful night of awards and comradery. This year was no different, and the winners mostly drew from the Origin / OA2 talent pool! Congrats to all of the nominees - and the winners in each category were:
Recording of the Year: The Kora Band, Cascades
Acoustic Group: Thomas Marriott's Flexicon
Alternative Jazz Group: Speak
Instrumentalist of the year: Bill Anschell
Vocalist of the year: Gail Pettis
Emerging Artist: Paul Kikuchi
Concert of the year: Speak CD Release Concert
Hall of Fame: Chuck Deardorf, Wayne Horvitz

John Stowell interviewed at tomajazz.com on recent tour in Spain

Guitarist John Stowell is one of the busiest in jazz, and on a recent trip to Spain Stowell was interviewed by www.tomajazz.com. You can read the full interview here in English or Spanish. Be sure to check out many of John's great albums, available on Origin, including his latest offering, Rinnova, with the NW trio, Scenes.

Saxophonist Hadley Caliman (1932 - 2010)

Tenor saxophonist and jazz legend Hadley Caliman passed away September 8th, after a two year struggle with liver cancer. He was 78 years old.

Caliman remained active until his last few weeks, performing regularly around the Northwest in support of his recent releases: Reunion with Pete Christilieb, which was released in August and is now #31 on the national jazz charts, and Straight Ahead, which is #9 for the year on the Jazz airplay charts and was in the Top 10 on U.S. jazz radio for many months.

Always striving to further himself on the saxophone, Caliman continued to practice daily into his last weeks. His last public performances were in Poulsbo on August 20, Tula's Jazz Club on August 13, and the release performance for Reunion with Pete Christlieb at The New Orleans Creole Restaurant on August 8.

Caliman's long career included credits with musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Gerald Wilson, Carlos Santana, Dexter Gordon, Elvin Jones, Mongo Santamaria, Joe Pass, The Grateful Dead, Joe Henderson, Don Ellis, Flora Purim, Phoebe Snow, Bobby Hutcherson and many others.

Origin wins 2009 JazzWeek Record Label of the Year

Seattle’s Origin Records was recognized as the 2009 Jazz Label of the Year at the JazzWeek Awards, held June 20th in Rochester, NY, during the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. The JazzWeek awards are voted on by several hundred members of the jazz industry including radio program directors, disc jockeys, program syndicators, satellite and cable broadcasters, record labels and promoters.

JazzWeek’s Ed Trefzger presented the award to Origin’s John Bishop during the JazzWeek Conference which has taken place alongside the Rochester Jazz Festival each year since 2003.

Also nominated in the Label category were Concord Records, Palmetto, Sunnyside, Heads Up, and HighNote Records.

Read the feature article in the SEATTLE TIMES.