Seattle Magazine
HOTJAZZ TICKET

LOCAL MOVER AND SHAKER: ORIGIN RECORDS SHOWCASE CONCERT

By GORDON TODD

In an industry ruled by survival of the richest, jazz teeters on the edge of commercial viability. Even a major-label star like Wynton Marsalis is doing well if his CD sells more than several thousand copies.

John Bishop (left) shares a moment with KPLU's Jim Wilke (right).

From this perspective, it’s no small feat that tiny Seattle jazz label Origin Records (206.781.2589; www.originarts.com) has released more than 35 CDs in four short years. Even more remarkable is the fact that it has not only survived, but thrived by marketing mostly Seattle artists, many of whom will perform at an Origin Records showcase concert on July 21 at Bake’s Place (5024 218^th Ave. NE; 425.898.0311; www.bakesplace.org), a homey jazz club in Redmond.

"I want [this business] to last a long time," says label founder and Seattle drummer John Bishop. "Unlike the dot-com industry, we’re growing slowly but steadily." One key might be that Bishop doesn’t depend on the label to make a profit he runs it like an artists’ cooperative. "We focus on getting good music out there and getting it heard. The breadth of talent and sound in Seattle jazz is unique-it deserves to be heard."

With a diverse collection of artists ranging from be-bop traditionalists to abstract experimentalists, Origin records get lots of airplay on Tacoma’s KPLU-FM and Bellevue’s KBCS-FM. And with help from favorable reviews in the jazz press, Origin has gained footholds on jazz radio in New York, Colorado and Michigan, among other places.

The label boasts such Seattle heavyweights as saxophonist Don Lanphere, pianist Marius Nordal, saxophonist Hans Teuber, bassist Jeff Johnson and the New Stories Trio (featuring Bishop on drums). Recently, the label expanded to include several Portland play- ers, popular San Francisco guitarist Mimi Fox and Tokyo sax veteran Yoshiyuki Yamanaka.

The Origin Records showcase concert at Bake’s Place will feature performances by New Stories, Matt Jorgensen, Chuck Deardorf/Dave Peterson and the Jeff Johnson Trio.