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Origin Story

Origin Story are "one of the freshest voices in Irish jazz and a must-hear for anyone who wants to know where the piano trio is headed in the 21st century" (Irish Times) and their debut album Good Friday was named Irish Times Jazz Album of the Year 2020.

Pianist Greg Felton, bassist Cormac OBrien and drummer Matthew Jacobson have accumulated over 25 years of history as collaborators and friends and have been involved in many of the most artistically successful projects in creative Irish music in that time. Since 2016, they have been writing and performing together as a trio.

Origin Story’s music is informed by all of these shared experiences and results in provocative and interactive writing and playing, equally influenced by the origins of the jazz tradition and contemporary innovations.

They have delivered several critically successful performances, including Galway Jazz Festival, Bray Jazz Festival, New Ross Piano Festival, IMC’s Signal Series and Howth Blues & Jazz Festival as well as longstanding residencies at the Dwarf Jar and the Liquor Rooms.

The band independently released their debut album, Good Friday on October 15th 2020. The album is available in digital and physical (CD) format from Bandcamp.

“a trio with bags of personality, where virtuoso playing is tempered by rich rhythmic textures strong melodies and a soulful collective voice”
(All About Jazz)

Greg Felton - piano
Cormac OBrien - double bass
Matthew Jacobson - drums

Origin Story At Scott's Jazz Club

by Ian Patterson
January 30, 2023

Origin Story Scott's Jazz Club jny:Belfast, N. Ireland January 20, 2023 It is a fairly quick jaunt up the motorway from Dublin to Belfast these days and jazz musicians from The Dub are making the journey more frequently than was once the case. Part of the problem was always the lack of a dedicated jazz venue in the northern capital. Pop-up, ad hoc jazz venues would appear and disappear just as quickly. But now ...

Album Review

Origin Story: Good Friday

Read "Good Friday" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
December 26, 2020

Past and present converge on Good Friday, the persuasive debut from Origin Story—the Dublin-trio of Greg Felton, Matthew Jacobson and Cormac O'Brien. Formerly known as F-JOB, the trio has been gigging since 2016, though the three musicians' paths have crossed in various settings over many more years. On these seven originals it is a case of familiarity breeding intuitive, free-flowing dialogue, where grooves old and new form the backdrop to fine individual and collective performances. “Good Friday," one ...

“a trio with bags of personality, where virtuoso playing is tempered by rich rhythmic textures strong melodies and a soulful collective voice”.
All About Jazz

"The trio, formerly known as F-JOB, make a sound that is artfully poised between the past and the future, a gutsy, gloriously organic confection of wayward melodies, ambiguous harmonies and densely funky rhythms"
4/5* Irish Times album review

"A highly impressive statement of intent. This is a fiercely interactive trio and the playing and writing combines a real sense of fun and joyousness with a New York informed confidence and attitude."
4/5* The Jazzmann album review

"Exuding agreeable and highly desirable maturity, Origin Story are... a piano trio who have nothing to prove and everything to give in a spirit of admirable positivity and interconnectedness."
Marlbank album review

"One of the freshest voices in Irish jazz and a must-hear for anyone who wants to know where the piano trio is headed in the 21st century."
The Irish Times