OA2 RECORDS NEWS

Origin Records & the Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition

In cooperation with Origin Records, the Gene Harris Jazz Festival is proud to present the first annual Gene Harris Jazz Competition, June 18-20, 2008. Open to anybody with a band and a creative jazz thought, the event is hoping to identify and promote talented unsigned jazz artists through a performance at their festival and a record deal with Origin Records. The Boise, Idaho-based festival will judge submissions made now through May 1st to select up to 10 bands to travel to Boise where they will perform for judges and audiences Wednesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 19. The winner of the competition will perform in the main concert on Friday night, opening for the great Roy Haynes and his Birds of a Feather band. They will also receive studio time and a pressing of their new CD on Origin or OA2 Records!

Hurry, time is short! Go to www.geneharris.org for rules and complete details.

Daniel Barry featured in Earshot Magazine's Cover Story

Daniel Barry, and his OA2 release "Walk All Ways" is featured in the February edition of Earshot Magazine.
In the interview, Daniel's love for music of all cultures, and respect of the music scene in Seattle, come across in a humble light as he paints a picture of his work, both in the Big Band and chamber music setting.

Check out the article on this extraordinary talent on Earshot's home page.

Origin/OA2 Records artists take home Golden Ear Awards .

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott took home two Golden Ear Awards and Origin Records founder John Bishop was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame at the 2007 Golden Ear Awards on Sunday, January 20, at the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

Marriott picked up awards for Best Northwest Jazz Recording and Northwest Instrumentalist of the Year, Latin jazz group Sonando was named Best Acoustic Jazz Group, and OA2 Records artist Gail Pettis was awarded Best Northwest Jazz Vocalist.

Joe Locke's performance at Jazz Port Townsend received the award for Northwest Jazz Concert of the Year.

Legendary drummer Dean Hodges and Origin Records founder John Bishop were inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame.

We'll do our best to not let any of it go to their heads.

Click here to read the full story at seattlejazzscene.com

2007... What A Year!

2007 was a great year for Origin and OA2 artists. The two labels released a combined 30 releases and radio loved them all... or... well... most of them.

Thomas Marriott's "Both Sides Of The Fence" was #30 on the JazzWeek "Top 100 CDs of 2007" chart, with Bobby Broom's "Song And Dance" at #42, and the McNeely / Sill / Spencer "Boneyard" trio disc at #86.

Chicago’s Deep Blue Organ Trio finished the year near the top of the national airplay charts (and they're still there after 16 weeks!) and "Folk Music" won Jazz Album of the Year at the Chicago Music Awards.

Among other highlights, New York organist Sam Yahel’s CD "Truth and Beauty" was named one of the year's Top 10 by both The New York Times and Newsday, while Darrell Grant's "Truth and Reconciliation," and The Galper / Johnson / Bishop "Furious Rubato" were both recognized by JazzTimes in their "Best of 2007" list. "Furious Rubato" also was in the top 10 from CODA magazine.

New Seattle Jazz Scene site, brings jazz fans and musicians together.

The newest addition to the Seattle's music world is the Seattle Jazz Scene website. Featuring gigs, reviews, upcoming events and festivals, links to musicians, and links to clubs, the site promises to be a powerful resource for both players and listeners alike. Featured in the Seattle Times, and the brainchild of Origin Drummer Matt Jorgensen, the concept will be developed into a tool for the entire Northwest Jazz community. Visit the site and register to be a member today!

Amazonas Jazz Festival, in Manaus, Northern Brazil features the music of Daniel Barry

Reflecting on his experience in Brazil, Seattle composer Daniel Barry is very pleased with his latest musical endeavor. "The Amazonas Jazz Festival is just going to keep getting bigger and better. All of the concerts in the Opera House were sold out and the outdoor performances included audiences of around 4,000 people." Barry said. "The Amazonas Band performed an entire set of my compositions. Maestro Rui Carvalho, who is also the artistic director of the festival, conducted and I performed as soloist. [Seattle resident] Dennis Haldane was also featured as the lead trumpet player. This was last Sunday, the closing concert of the festival. The highlight for me came during rehearsals when I heard the Brazilian musicians in the rhythm section playing the authentic Samba and Maracatu grooves that I've written into some of these pieces." Daniel's new "Walk All Ways" album, is now available.

OA2 Records' John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen Featured in Seattle's Earshot Jazz Magazine

Origin records celebrates it's 10th anniversary this year, and Seattle's Earshot Jazz Magazine has the cover story. With nearly 175 releases on two labels, John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen have helped build a strong presence in the Jazz community. Click here to read the interview. Artists and fans will enjoy the 10th Anniversary sales through this website, with details soon to follow.

OA2 RECORDS ARTIST AIRPLAY

Ben Patterson's Breathing Space album has done great on the JazzWeek national airplay charts. It's been getting airplay around the country and peaked at #57! Hear for yourself why people keep calling radio stations to request this great album.

Seattle Jazz Photo, "A Great Day in Seattle"

Nearly 300 of Seattle's professional jazz musicians gathered May 6th for a "Great Day In Harlem"-style photograph on the steps of Seattle City Hall. Origin Records artist Thomas Marriott, Pony Boy Records owner Greg Williamson, Musicares' Jane Peck, and Origin Records' own Chad McCullough spent the last 8 months coordinating the event. The attendees represented the wide array of music that makes up the Seattle Jazz Scene, from early Jackson Street Days, to free improvised music, to modern contemporary smooth jazz. Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Daniel Sheehan snapped the official shutter on the event. Posters are now available. All of the proceeds from sales will be donated to Musicares. For more information, please visit www.agreatdayinseattle.com.

ORIGIN/OA2 RECORDS LIVE 365 ONLINE RADIO

Origin Records online radio station at live365.com is being heard around the world. With listeners from China to Brazil, people everywhere are picking up the streaming broadcast which features a collection of some of the finest tracks from the Origin and OA2 catalog. It's free to sign up... so what're you waiting for? Start listening now!

If you have iTunes, you can also subscribe to our video and audio Podcasts at itpc://www.origin-records.com/podcast.xml

(iTunes Directions: Click "Advanced" on the top tool bar, select "Subscribe To Podcast" and enter "http://www.origin-records.com/podcast.xml")