IS IT REALLY MAY ALREADY?

Time sure does seem to be flying by ... starting tonight (Tuesday, May 12) I'll be at Jazz Alley with The Eric Alexander Quartet. Check the Tour Dates page for more info.

After an amazing five days at the 2009 Ballard Jazz Festival, I headed out for a concert in Denver with Corey Christiansen and then was back in Seattle for a few days before heading to Vancouver, BC, with Thomas Marriott for a weekend.

RECENT AUDIO DOWNLOADS!

THOMAS MARRIOTT AT THE CELLAR (Vancouver, BC) featuring: Thomas Marriott (trumpet); Mark Taylor (saxophones); Brad Turner (keyboards); Paul Rushka (bass); Matt Jorgensen (drums)
Download Set 1 | Download Set 2

MATT JORGENSEN GROUP AT 2009 BROTHERHOOD OF THE DRUM - Download Set
featuring Thomas Marriott (trumpet); Chris Spencer (guitar); Jon Hamar (bass); Matt Jorgensen (drums)

OTHER LINKS:

• Brotherhood of the Drum Photos
• with Corey Christiansen at The Guitar Summit
• with Hadley Caliman at The Ballard Jazz Walk
• Mainstage Concert with Corey Christiansen

NEW THOMAS MARRIOTT RECORD

Thomas Marriott spent two days at Avast Ironwood in April recording tracks for two up-coming CDs. John Bishop played on the first album and I did the second with Thomas, Gary Versace (organ) and Mark Taylor (saxophone). Look for this to come out at some point in 2010.

MARCH - APRIL

Just got back from a short tour with Corey Christiansen to Atlanta, Bloomington and St. Louis.

As always, check the Tour Dates page for a couple of great gigs coming up. Hadley Caliman this weekend, the end of April The Ballard Jazz Festival, then to Denver with Corey Christiansen, Vancouver with Thomas Marriott and back to Seattle for a couple nights at Jazz Alley with Eric Alexander.

WELCOME 2009

I know it has been a while since I updated my site. Lots of stuff happening so I haven't had much time to update.

Just finished three days in the studio with the Jim Knapp Orchestra at the legendary London Bridge Studios with Rick Parasher (Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains) producing. This was the first time that I've recorded a studio album with a big band so it was fun to experience all the ins-and-outs of getting such a large group on tape. And you can see by the photo my drumset had quite a bit of work done on it.

In February I had a session at Glen Sound in Seattle with saxophonist Richard Cole. We finished up his new CD which should be out later this year and also recorded a few tunes for his next CD.

This Sunday I leave for a week long tour of clinics and performances with guitarist Corey Christiansen. Check the tour dates page for more information, but here are the quick details:

March 9: Atlanta Institue of Music, Atlanta, GA
March 10: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
March 11: Indiana Univeristy, Bloomington, ID
March 12: with Corey Christiansen, The Bear's Place, Bloomington, IN
March 13: with Corey Christiansen, Meramac College, St. Louis, MO

NEW HADLEY CALIMAN RECORDING

November seemed to fly by.

Just finished a session at Two Sticks Audio in Seattle for a new Hadley Caliman CD for sometime in 2009. Hadley, Thomas Marriott and I were in Denver a few weeks ago and Hadley sounds amazing these days. It was a pleasure to play on the new record. Look for in in the coming months on Origin Records.

The Ballard Jazz Walk was held on a Thursday in November and once again it featured an incredible night of music. Visit the Ballard Jazz Festival website for photos.

IN DENVER THIS WEEK / BALLARD JAZZ WALK

I'm in Denver this weekend playing with Hadley Caliman and Thomas Marriott at Dazzle Jazz Club.

Next week I'll be performing at The Ballard Jazz Walk on Thursday, November 20th. After that it is off to Portland with Chad McCullough and Geof Bradfield and then back to Seattle to record with Hadley Caliman

GREAT GIGS COMING UP

Back in Seattle for a day. Finished a couple of great gigs with Eric Alexander and getting ready to head out for two gigs with Bill Mays' Trio and then back to Seattle for a Hadley Caliman show at the Earshot Festival.

Check the Gigs page for all the latest events.

NICE BUMBERSHOOT PREVIEW

This weekend I'll be performing at the Bumbershoot Festival of the Arts with both my group and Hadley Caliman. The Stranger has a nice preview of our show:

Seattle drummer Matt Jorgensen leads +451, a quartet of deft jazz studs who excel at the cool, understated approach instigated by Miles Davis, but he and his crew also draw in influences from rockers like Radiohead and the Beatles. Jorgensen’s a subtly kinetic sticksman, and his mates on saxophones, bass, and Fender Rhodes forge compelling melodies that range from grandiose to intimate. - DAVE SEGAL

For more information on the Bumbershoot show, click here.

This weekend I'll also be performing with Thomas Marriott at the Anacortes Jazz Festival. Check out the Gigs page for all the latest info.

NEW PHOTOS AND UPDATES

Just finished posting two new photo galleries from April's Ballard Jazz Festival

Sam Yahel Trio on the Mainstage
Matt Jorgensen's Little Big Band at Brotherhood of the Drum

And on the recording news, in addition to the two new CDs that I listed below ... just got a copy of the final mixes from Thomas Marriott's new CD, Flexicon, which should come out at some point in 2009.

The recording features Thomas, Mark Taylor, Joe Locke, Bill Anschell, Jeff Johnson and myself (see photo right). Don Gunn did the final mixes and it sounds great. Thinking back on the session I don't really remember much because I showed up that morning really sick and didn't get over whatever I had for about three weeks after that which included Hadley Caliman's CD release party and a week-long 451 tour. So I was thrilled when I heard all the music because it is an amazing sounding record.

FESTIVAL NEWS

Just got back from a quick trip to Portland to play the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival with 451. We are playing next at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on Sunday, August 31. I'll also be performing with Hadley Caliman's Quintet so check out a great afternoon of music.

The night before, August 30, I'll be at the Anacortes Jazz Festival with Thomas Marriott and organist Ron Weinstein. The ultimate bummer for me is that I got called to play with Dr. Lonnie Smith on August 31, but because of Bumbershoot I wasn't able to make it. John Bishop will do a great job holding down the drum chair and my friend guitarist Corey Christiansen is playing guitar so it will be great.

TWO NEW RECORDINGS

I'm on a couple of new recordings that will be hitting store shelves soon.

Guitarist Corey Christiansen's new CD is called Roll With It and it will be out on Origin Records in September. This was one of the easiest sessions I've ever been a part of. David Halliday on saxophone and Pat Bianchi on organ. Never played with either of them before and when I sat down to play with Pat it was soooo groovin'!

Corey and I will be playing in Chicago with Scott Burns (saxophone) and Pete Benson (organ) as part of the Origin Records Chicago Jazz Summit on Saturday, September 27 at Andy's Jazz Cafe. Plus there will be tons of other gigs coming up so be on the lookout for this disc.

Last Wednesday I sat in on a couple tunes for Kelley Johnson's CD release party for Home. I can't remember how many tunes I recorded but three of them ended up on the CD. So checkout Kelley's site for this disc.

DRUM LESSONS

I've been doing a bit of teaching as of late and I have space available for 2 students. If you are in Seattle and want to take a lesson ... send me an email.

BACK FROM SAN FRANCISCO ... NEW 451 REVIEW

Just got back from a weekend at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco with saxophonist Hadley Caliman. A great weekend of music and it was great to spend a few days in San Francisco ... I haven't been down there since 2005 so it had been far too long.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show.

On the 451 front ... Another Morning was just named JAZZ CD OF THE WEEK by George FM in Australia.

It is instantly apparent that the band have worked together for best part of the last decade, they are a tight unit. The interaction is seamless and uncanny and they instinctively know when to hold back during solos. The jazz style is split roughly 50 /50 between straight jazz and fusion. Not that genres matter too much with this release, the music does the talking.

You can read the full review here.

REVIEWS

A couple of new reviews for Another Morning just came in, including my first review in JazzTimes Magazine.

So then I read the first paragraph ... On the Seattle quartet's first recording since Hope in 2004, Matt jorgensen + 451 continues to explore a particular brand of jazz-rock fusion that is more subtle than your average pounding, thrashing, over-the-top variety. However, leader Jorgensen's fiery and excessively busy drumming often overwhelms and distracts from the group sound as well as the soloists.

Overall the reviews for Another Morning have been great so that's one where I just shrugg and move on. Because no matter what JazzTimes says, I always have this review from Dick Crockett:

Another Morning is your answer to the other side of funk where Jersey City is fading mythology, and space mountain is the new anthology, where Santa Cruz women prefer hair on their legs than a full body wax, where odor is an essence of nirvana.

What does this mean? I have no clue ... but it sure sounds cool!

NEW PHOTOS ADDED

It has been a while since I've updated the Photos Gallery so I'm slowing going through the backlog of photos and putting them up on the site.

Here is a start ... take a look at these galleries

Matt Jorgensen +451 CD Release Party
Thomas Marriott CD Release Party

NEW BOOK FEATURES PHOTOS OF MATT JORGENSEN +451

Philadelphia photographer Tom Priemon has published a new book of photographs entitled, “Inner Circle,” documenting a performance by Matt Jorgensen +451 at the Grand Illusion Theater in 2003.

From the promo material for the book:
“Inner Circle” with Matt Jorgensen + 451 is a visual music composition using the medium of Photonality. In Photonality the camera acts as an additional instument within the performance, moving in, out and around an axis.

You can read more about the book here.

THE DRUMMER LUNCH FEATURED IN DRUM MAGAZINE

Every Monday afternoon a bunch of drummers in Seattle gather for lunch. One of our lunch regulars, Bill Rieflin, was featured in the May issue of Drum Magazine and there is a short mention of the lunch.

If you play drums, and are in Seattle ... send me an email and I'll put you on the list.

Also, I'll be posting some photos from our drummer lunch soon so check back.

"ANOTHER MORNING" NOW AVAILABLE

MATT JORGENSEN +451, "Another Morning" (Origin 82500) New Beginnings (Matt Jorgensen/Jeff McSpadden) 7:22 Sweetpea (Matt Jorgensen/Jeff McSpadden) 5:21 Birds (Ryan Burns) 7:47 Spectre (Mark Taylor) 5:58 Lock Down (Chad McCullough) 7:11 Helter Skelter (Lennon/McCartney) 5:04 Entomology (Ryan Burns) 7:42 Power To The People (Joe Henderson) 7:05 Tell and Retell (Matt Jorgensen) 1:22 Ohio (Neil Young) 5:41 featuring: Mark Taylor - Saxophones Ryan Burns - Fender Rhodes, Organ, Moog Phil Sparks - Bass Matt Jorgensen - Drums with special guests: Thomas Marriott - Trumpet (1, 6, 10) Jason Goessl - Guitar (2, 10)

Buy CD: $14.99 Click here to download from iTunes

BUNCH OF REVIEWS FOR ANOTHER MORNING:

Check out the Reviews Page for all the latest Another Morning CD reviews from The Seattle Times, All About Jazz, All Music Guide, The Stranger and more!

And then there is this one ... PROBABLY THE BEST REVIEW EVER!

From Dick Crockett, Bopin' Dick's 10 Picks:
Another Morning Is your answer to the other side of funk where Jersey City is fading mythology, and space mountain is the new anthology, where Santa Cruz women prefer hair on their legs than a full body wax, where odor is an essence of nirvana.

Drummer Jorgensen has assembled a cast of Ryan Burns, keyboards, Mark Taylor saxophones, Phil Sparks, bass to further the new funk muse of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who attended on of our recent shows on tour. We will be posting photos shortly so check back for those.

We will be doing some more shows in the near future so check back with the Tour Dates page for the latest info.

FEATURED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES

It’s hard to imagine Seattle jazz these days without drummer Matt Jorgensen.

One of the partners behind Origin Records, not to mention the Ballard Jazz Festival, seattlejazzscene.com, Sunday jazz at the Hendrix Lounge (in Columbia City) … this guy never seems to run out of projects.

This week, however, is not about Jorgensen the playa, but the player. Thursday, the 35-year-old dynamo celebrates the release of “Another Morning” (Origin), the new album by his group, Matt Jorgensen + 451. But he’s also on the other two best jazz tickets in town.

“It’s rare that I get to do three really cool gigs in a week,” said Jorgensen in a phone interview from his car. “After that, 451’s going out on the road for a week, then I’m getting ready for the Ballard Festival. I’ll figure out the rest from there.”

Click here to read the entire article ...

DOWNLOAD THE SHOW FROM PORTLAND

Just got back from the show at the Portland Jazz Festival. We had a great time and a lot of 451 fans made it out so that was nice to see.

We recorded both sets on my handy Zoom H2 recorder so enjoy!

• Portland Set 1
• Portland Set 2

451 is getting ready for our official CD Release Party on March 27 so make your plans to be in Seattle for that ...

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 7:30pm
THE TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE
216 Union Street
Seattle
$15, All Ages
Click here for more information.

BACK FROM SALT LAKE

Just got back from recording a new record with guitarist Corey Christiansen along with Dave Halliday on saxophone and Paul Bianchi on B3 organ. We recorded 14 tunes in 2 days and it looks like there will be enough material for two up-coming releases on Origin Records. Had a blast recording and the music Corey wrote for the session was killing!

Now that I'm back in Seattle ... 451 is rehearsing this week for our up-coming show at the Portland Jazz Festival this Friday.

Also, just got the charts for the recording session next week with Thomas Marriott and Joe Locke. Thomas is writing some great music and it should be a blast.

RECORDING NEWS

The new Matt Jorgensen +451 CD will hit stores on Tuesday, March 25th.

MATT JORGENSEN +451, "Another Morning" (Origin 82500)

1. New Beginnings (Matt Jorgensen/Jeff McSpadden) 7:22
2. Sweetpea (Matt Jorgensen/Jeff McSpadden) 5:21
3. Birds (Ryan Burns) 7:47
4. Spectre (Mark Taylor) 5:58
5. Lock Down (Chad McCullough) 7:11
6. Helter Skelter (Lennon/McCartney) 5:04
7. Entomology (Ryan Burns) 7:42
8. Power To The People (Joe Henderson) 7:05
9. Tell and Retell (Matt Jorgensen) 1:22
10. Ohio (Neil Young) 5:41

featuring:
Mark Taylor - Saxophones
Ryan Burns - Fender Rhodes, Organ, Moog
Phil Sparks - Bass
Matt Jorgensen - Drums

with special guests:
Thomas Marriott - Trumpet (1, 6, 10)
Jason Goessl - Guitar (2, 10)

and in other recording news ...

Thomas Marriott's, "Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson" is now out and available from Origin Records. The CD will be featured in the May issue of JazzTimes so everyone is excited about that.

I'm heading to Salt Lake City, UT, in February to spend a weekend in the studio with guitarist Corey Christiansen for a 2008 Origin Records release.

Just finished recording 5 tracks with saxophonist Richard Cole. Also featured on the date with Randy Brecker on trumpet so that was an absolute treat! Rich just had a new CD come out this November so it will probably be a while before these tracks come out.

The record I did with vocalist Kelley Johnson has been mixed so that will be out sometime in 2008 as well.

BALLARD JAZZ WALK THIS FRIDAY

I'll be at the Ballard Jazz Walk this Friday night, November 30th, performing at the Sunset Tavern first with Chicago guitarist John McLean and then with Thomas Marriott's Willie Nelson Project. For more information and tickets, goto http://ballardjazzfestival.com

I was recently interviewed in the Seattle Times about the jazz walk which you can read here.

Also, The Seattle Channel did a profile and John Bishop and myself about 10 years of Origin Records and the festival, etc ... watch the video on the Ballard Jazz Festival Video Player.

SEATTLE JAZZ SHOWCASE CONTINUES

If you live in Seattle and like jazz, make sure and check out Seattle Jazz Scene online. Their Seattle Jazz Showcase continues this week and on until November 1st so make sure and catch a show!

Next week I'm participating in a Jazz Think Tank sponsored by Chamber Music America. It will be held at McCaw Hall in Seattle and a bunch of people from across the country are coming to Seattle to discuss the state of jazz. So by the end of next week I think we'll have it all solved so stay tuned!

Just finished mixing the new Matt Jorgensen +451 CD and it sounds pretty amazing. All the performances are great. We recorded it at Two Sticks Audio and worked with engineer Don Gunn for the first time and the whole process has been great. We have a couple of shows booked in 2008 with more being announced soon ... but look for us at the Triple Door Mainspace, The Portland Jazz Festival and the Gene Harris Jazz Festival.

GIVE ME MONEY!

I'm going to be helping out with the KBCS Pledge Drive on Thursday, Oct 4th, from 8-9am. Please call up and lend your support to KBCS ... the only station in Seattle that plays my recordings.

If we meet our goal for the hour I'm going to World Premier a track from my new disc that will be out in March 2008.

CALL 425-564-5000 or visit http://kbcs.fm

SEATTLE JAZZ SHOWCASE AND OTHER GIGS

October is turning out to be a busy month ... the website Seattle Jazz Scene is launching this month and sponsoring a kickoff series at the Seattle Drum School LAB (which is a great place to hear live music) featuring almost everyone who is someone in Seattle jazz.

Visit the website for more information: http://www.seattlejazzscene.com

You can see me at the following shows:
Monday, Oct 15 with The Hadley Caliman Quintet
Tuesday, Oct 16 with The Jon Hamar Trio
Wednesday, Oct 17 with Thomas Marriott's Willie Nelson Project and More Zero
Thursday, Nov 1 with Vern Sielert's Dektet

Other gigs of note this month:
Friday, October 5 with Cynthia Mullis at Crossroads Market, Bellevue
Saturday, October 14 with Greta Matassa at Tula's
Sunday, October 28 with More Zero in Bellingham

Check the Tour Dates page for all the details.

NEW PHOTOS

Added a couple of new photo galleries to the collection

Recording the new 451 CD

Sam Yahel Trio at Bumbershoot

 

NEW 451 CD RECORDED

Just spent two days recording the new 451 record at Two Sticks Studios in Seattle. We got a lot of good stuff and it is mostly original material along with arrangements of Joe Henderson's "Power To The People," The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" and Neil Young's "Ohio". We are now mixing with Don Gunn and should be done here in the next couple of weeks. It is slated for a February or March 2008 release on Origin Records and we'll be doing some shows when it comes out.

Thomas Marriott's new Willie Nelson Project is also finished and it will be coming out around the same time. We just got it back from mastering and it sounds really good so we are all excited about that as well.

Speaking of Thomas Marriott ... I have a string of gigs this weekend. Thursday at Interbay and then we are off to Yakima for a gig with his Quintet and then a night of the Willie Nelson music. In September I'm heading to Atlanta and Savannah with Thomas for gigs. Check the Tour Dates page for more info.

Also finished a new CD with vocalist Kelley Johnson so that should be released some time in 2008 as well.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS

For the last year or so I've been directing/editing/producing videos for the Origin Records Video Podcast. The response has been very cool and a couple of the videos have just been sent off to SKY TV in the UK to be aired on their music program.

Here are a few that I've directed:

• Thomas Marriott EPK
• 'Scenes' EPK
• Upper Left Trio EPK
• Joe Locke EPK
• Chris Walden EPK (I did the editing)

Some featuring me and other live stuff in Seattle

• performing with Ian Hendrickson-Smith at the Triple Door
• performing with Eric Alexander and Peter Bernstein at the Ballard Jazz Festiva