Trombonist Benny Powell (1930-2010)

On Monday, July 12, New York's jazz community gathered at Saint Peter's Church to celebrate the life of the late trombonist Benny Powell. Saint Peter's is known as the "Jazz Church," having a dedicated jazz ministry and a long tradition of hosting memorial services for the city's departed musical greats.

Powells last record as a leader Nextep, was released on Origin Records early 2009. He performed with countless jazz luminaries, including Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Adullah Ibrahim, Randy Weston, and a very long tenure in the Count Basie Orchestra. That's him on "April In Paris."

New Feature article on All About Jazz for Jessica Williams

Dan McClenaghan has done a marvelously revealing piece on pianist Jessica Williams over at one of our favorite sites, allaboutjazz.com. In it, he details her current works, and speaks with Jessica about here career, her troubles, and what plans she has in store for the future. Click here to read the full article, and be sure to listen to samples from her latest record on the Origin Records album page, by clicking the CD cover art.

Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott hit #1 on US jazz charts!

The East - West Trumpet Summit peaked at #1 on the Jazzweek charts; as the most played album on jazz radio. The disc, in the tradition of many other two-trumpet frontlined albums, features Tom and Ray in top form with one of the finest rhythm sections working in jazz today.
Allaboutjazz.com said it best:
"With evident camaraderie, East-West Trumpet Summit is a joyful celebration of friendship and music from two heavyweights of jazz trumpet."

Bobby Broom featured in Downbeat Magazine

Be sure to catch the feature on guitarist Bobby Broom in the June issue of Downbeat magazine - In stores now!

Broom's Origin Records offering of last year, Bobby Broom Plays for Monk, peaked at #2 for multiple weeks in nationwide jazz airplay and ranked #13 overall for 2009. Quite a feat considering it was released in June!

Having recently left Sonny Rollins's band where he served his second of two 5 year tenures, Broom can currently be heard on the new CD by trumpeter Pharez Whitted,Transient Journey, and live with his own groups the Bobby Broom Trio and the Deep Blue Organ Trio. DBOT will begin recording again in June. Visit http://www.bobbybroom.com for news and his complete performance schedule.

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.