“Hard Bop, I love the way Chart fires off riffs like a peregrine falcon flying through the canyons.”
— Cadence Jazz Magazine"Your improvisations are fearless journeys into the unknown, always returning with treasures."
— Hubert Laws
TALL TREES
ADAGIO GROOVES
Adagio Blue” opens with a cinematic hush. Muted arpeggios and pizzicato cello notes ripple like early morning light through city streets while weeping strings hover with longer, lyrical phrases. It’s a moment of suspended breath before virtuoso saxophonist Justin Chart enters, and when he does, it’s pure magic.
Chart’s saxophone voice is smooth and bluesy with a touch of nostalgia like a sunny stroll through Manhattan’s Upper West Side. His phrasing is both improvisational and refined, dancing conversationally against the classically orchestrated backdrop. There’s an innate elegance to the counterpoint as the strings respond, never overpowering, always in dialogue. As the piece unfolds, a warm viola section emerges, gently expanding the tonal palette while the cello section maintains its plucked, grounding rhythm. Then, about three minutes in, the day awakes. Just as the listener has grown comfortable in the sunny mellow exchange between sax and strings, bassist Max Gerl changes the terrain our ears walk upon. He lays down a syncopated, sophisticated groove that elevates the piece into full-blown jazz momentum. Now in high gear, Chart’s sax takes flight. His technical mastery is jaw-dropping, from intricate runs to sculpted melodic lines delivered with precision and soul. Drummer Scott Jackson joins the conversation with subtle propulsion, while the string section continues to weave in and out, creating dramatic swells and release that build until the last note sounds.
ART
Justin Chart’s latest hard bop album, ‘ART’, is a phenomenal live album that showcases the raw energy and spontaneity that define Chart’s performances. The quintet creates another significant jazz album that is both sophisticated and soulful. Chart’s alto saxophone playing is exuberant, soulful, and bluesy. His approach is optimistic and human, characterized by skillful melodic invention, rhythmic finesse, and heartfelt expressiveness. He integrates hard bop, modal jazz, and soul into a distinctive, highly popular style that appeals to a wide audience.
Kenton Luck is featured on Trombone shining throughout with hard hitting melodic solos and crisp harmonies. He has a dazzling technique, flawless and mellifluous tone, and rhythmic buoyancy, characterized by ambitious, harmonically complex solos.
The album’s dynamic interplay and powerful rhythmic foundation make it a compelling listen.
ALTO AVENUE
“Alto Avenue” by Justin Chart is a compelling testament to the enduring power and vitality of modern jazz, showcasing all the essential qualities that make a true jazz album resonate with listeners. Chart’s alto saxophone playing is both technically brilliant and deeply emotive, moving seamlessly between intricate, fast-paced Bebop runs and tender, introspective melodic statements. This command of his instrument and the narrative arc of his solos strongly recall the influential approach of Cannonball Adderley on “Somethin’ Else,” an album celebrated for its clear, articulate expression and the powerful interplay between its masters.
The album’s rhythmic foundation is impeccable, providing a solid yet flexible canvas for Chart’s improvisations and the contributions of his fellow musicians. There’s a palpable sense of swing and groove throughout “Alto Avenue” that is infectious and undeniably authentic.
Chart similarly steers “Alto Avenue” through a landscape of rich harmonies and compelling rhythms. The album captures that raw, in-the-moment magic of jazz, where the compositions feel less like pre-written structures and more like organic conversations among gifted musicians.
What truly elevates “Alto Avenue” to the upper echelons of jazz is its uncanny ability to communicate deep emotion through instrumental storytelling. The dynamic shifts, the thoughtful phrasing, and the intuitive call-and-response between Chart’s alto and the accompanying ensemble evoke a sense of controlled exultancy, a hallmark of classic jazz.
– Fanfare Magazine
BORN OF THE HORN
“Born of The Horn” a powerful Hard Bop album, captures the raw energy and soulful interplay of Justin Chart and Mike Rocha. Chart’s alto sax sings with a bluesy fervor, weaving intricate melodies that dance between smoky late-night introspection and fiery bursts of improvisation. Rocha, on trumpet, though not a band leader, evokes his brassy tones by cutting through the mix with power and delicate phrasing. The rhythm section lays down a swinging foundation, pushing and pulling the soloists as they create original compositions, shaping an atmosphere thick with the spirit of jazz legends past while forging their own distinct sound.
“Born of The Horn” is, a vibrant conversation that crackles through the speakers, capturing the excitement of the crowd roaring for more.
— Jazz Europa
CHILLIN'
A timeless masterpiece, “Chillin’ ” is a serene and introspective journey through the world of modal jazz.
Justin Chart’s saxophone, and Alex Burke’s vibraphone weave together to create a soundscape of ethereal beauty. The album’s understated elegance and emotional depth make it the perfect soundtrack for a quiet, intimate evening.
The album’s rhythmic complexity and harmonic sophistication will keep you engaged and entertained throughout the night.
NIGHT HEAT
“Night Heat” is a captivating journey into contemporary post-bop jazz. Chart’s alto saxophone takes center stage, weaving mesmerizing melodies throughout the album. The interplay between Chart and the band is phenomenal, creating real-time magic. Chart’s signature, Live and in 1 take!
“Night Heat” is a love letter to the city, in all its complexity. The music is both sophisticated and soulful, reflecting the multifaceted character of urban life. If you want to feel jazz, listen to “Night Heat”.
Lapalme Magazine Review: Justin Chart: Night Heat
Justin Chart’s appropriately named new album “Night Heat” is live with the unbridled spontaneity of brilliant musicians at the very top of their game
Chart has once again recorded a live Hard-Bop album of fluid language, with thought-provoking phrasing, while presenting powerful control of his horn.
“We Got Somethin Goin On”, begins as a sprawling piece that starts with a powerful groove that sinks right in to your core before morphing into a full-blown jazz extravaganza, fueling Chart’s sizzling riffs. This song would have been a hit single back in the day when instrumental singles meant something.
