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Matt Jorgensen + 451: Another Morning
ByThe group is a rhythm section and saxophone, but it sounds like no other. No one playing in this formatwith the exception of perhaps Vijay Iyerhas crafted a more distinctive jazz identity.
Another Morning is a big step forward from the excellent Hope (Origin Records, 2004). There's a more on-the-edge feeling to the music, the approach a bit more unfettered. The musicians have grown and the sound has evolved in the direction of urgency and adventure.
Opening with "New Beginnings," Burns' reverent organ goes to church. Then flip the light switch, and Matt Jorgensen + 451 blows in, very much in a democratic mode, joined by guest trumpeter Thomas Marriott.
The jazz/rock aesthetic comes in large part from Burns, for whom there are no limits to the noises made on his keyboards. Aiding the effort is guest guitarist Jason Goessl on the Matt Jorgensen/Jeff McSpadden-penned "Sweet Pea." The keyboard and guitar sound like competing blacksmiths trading metallic hammer blows in front of Jorgensen's industrial percussion groove.
The sixties atmosphere is bolstered by two covers of rock songs: The Beatles' "Helter Skelter"one of the more raucous tunes from their white album, The Beatles (Apple Records, 1968)and Neil Young's protest over the 1970 Kent State killings, "Ohio," that again features Goessl, sounding crunchy and quite Neil Young-ish.
It's been a four-year span between 2004's Hope and 2008's Another Morning, but Matt Jorgensen + 451 have made it worth the wait. Another fine and distinctive outing, with the adventure factor up a couple of notches.
Track Listing
New Beginning; Sweetpea; Birds; Spectre; Lock Down; Helter Skelter; Entomology; Power to the People; Tell and Retell; Ohio.
Personnel
Matt Jorgensen
drumsMark Taylor: saxophones; Ryan Burns: Fender Rhodes, organ, Moog; Phil Sparks: bass; Matt Jorgensen: drums. Special guests: Thomas Marriott: trumpet (1, 8, 10); Jason Goessl: guitar (2, 10).
Album information
Title: Another Morning | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Origin Records
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