Origin Records
2004
Hope
About This Album
The fourth album from Matt Jorgensen's 451 group continues the line of somewhat traditional modern jazz (if that can be considered a proper name for the style) with a definite forward-thinking aspect built in. The album introduces itself with a groove-laden (and aptly named) "Slinky," powered in part by Phil Sparks' powerful bass, before moving into an interesting cover of a Coldplay song. The first part of the "Hope" series (a trio of title tracks) is a much more ethereal work, making use of some violin riffing and a good bit of synth work. It's certainly off the beaten path from what precedes it. Matt Otto's "Che" has a somewhat more pensive feel, but the energy is released via some lengthy soloing by Mark Taylor and Rob Davis on their respective saxes. "Pack Sack," the first of a trio of Jorgensen originals in a row, is a very hot number, letting the quartet bask in their own speed and strength. "Peacefulness" heads back toward the sparseness and ethereal mood of the earlier "Hope" installment, but with a heavier emphasis on the sax here. Using "Peacefulness" as a nice lead-in reminder of the previous installment, the second installment of "Hope" (actually the third installment, as they're presented intentionally out of order) returns the violin and synths, but fills in the sparseness with a heavier, subtly Bo Diddley-esque beat throughout thanks to Jorgensen.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4 and 9)

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