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Matt Jorgensen

Since moving back to Seattle in 2002 after 10 years in New York City, Matt Jorgensen has been active in all aspects of the Seattle jazz scene. He has recorded four CD ’s with his group Matt Jorgensen +451 for Origin Records, and has toured extensively from New York to LA and in 2003 picked up an award for “Best Acoustic Jazz Group” by Earshot Jazz.

As a sideman he is frequently called on by an impressive list of musicians including Peter Bernstein, Eric Alexander, Bill Mays, Vincent Herring, George Colligan, Reggie Workman, Tim Ries, Chuck Leavell and others.

Matt is also a founder and co-Artistic Director of the Ballard Jazz Festival and has produced jazz concerts in association with Bumbershoot and others.

Jorgensen’s new CD, Tattooed by Passion, is inspired by the paintings of his late father-in-law, the prominent abstract-impressionist artist Dale Chisman. Jorgensen has created a recording of all original works drawing influence directly from Chisman paintings, his home city of Denver, his life-long friends, and his constant reinvention as an artist. To properly reflect the power and expanse of Chisman’s pieces, Jorgensen, along with his longtime collaborators – trumpeter Thomas Marriott and saxophonist Mark Taylor – expands his own palette from previous recordings, exploring broad new textures and musical landscapes aided by Corey Christiansen’s earthy guitar work, bassist Dave Captein, and orchestrations for string quartet.

Awards

2003 Northwest Acoustic Jazz Group of the Year - Earshot Jazz Magazine


Tags

25
Album Review

Jim Knapp Orchestra: It's Not Business, It's Personal

Read "It's Not Business, It's Personal" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Jim Knapp Orchestra's CD It's Not Business, It's Personal, recorded in February 2009, was set to be released on November 19, 2021—six days after Knapp died at age eighty-two in Kirkland, Washington. Apart from his role as bandleader, Knapp was a trumpeter, composer, arranger and longtime faculty member at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Described by Grammy-winning composer/pianist Jim McNeely as “a brilliant musician, great teacher and a humble, sweet [and] generous man," Knapp was widely recognized ...

17
Album Review

Jared Hall: Seen on the Scene

Read "Seen on the Scene" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Seen on the Scene, Seattle-based trumpeter Jared Hall's second album as a leader, has a lot going for it: tight-knit group unity and tasteful dynamics; bright, technically polished solos by all hands; and engaging tunes by Hall and the late bop master, Tadd Dameron. As a bonus, the acclaimed alto saxophonist Vincent Herring is “on the scene" to share the front line with Hall, elevating the session whenever he assumes the spotlight. Hall's sound is crisp and ...

11
Album Review

Jared Hall: Seen on the Scene

Read "Seen on the Scene" reviewed by Paul Rauch


In many ways the title Seen on the Scene encapsulates trumpeter Jared Hall's story leading up to the studio session in 2018 which resulted in this, his sophomore release. The native of Spokane, Washington, arrived in Seattle in 2015 after completing studies with mercurial trumpet ace Brian Lynch and, almost immediately, scored a residency at Tula's, the city's legendary jazz spot. Sporting new compositions and a new recording on Lynch's Hollistic MusicWorks label, Hall went about establishing himself on the ...

3
Album Review

Jared Hall: Seen on the Scene

Read "Seen on the Scene" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


With Seen On the Scene, his Origin Records debut, trumpeter Jared Hall offers up the sort of fresh bebop/post bop sounds found on the Blue Note Records label in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Horace Silver and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers seem to serve as touchstones, as does pianist / composer Tad Dameron, too. Hall's quintet—the familiar trumpet and sax and rhythm section line-up—takes on a pair of Dameron's classics: “Mating Call," and two versions of “If ...

4
Album Review

Ryan Burns: Postponed Parade

Read "Postponed Parade" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Keyboardist Ryan Burns' Postponed Parade happened, in large part, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The vexing virus that hit us in 2020 made getting together difficult and dangerous--for music-making or anything else. So here is what Burns did: During Covid-19 times he recorded and released a single tune each month, from May to October 2020. These sessions took place in his contributing musicians' houses, with the exception of “Shoreline," recorded in a studio, but with everyone in a separate room. ...

14
Profile

20 Seattle Jazz Musicians You Should Know: Matt Jorgensen

Read "20 Seattle Jazz Musicians You Should Know: Matt Jorgensen" reviewed by Paul Rauch


The city of Seattle has a jazz history that dates back to the very beginnings of the form. It was home to the first integrated club scene in America on Jackson St in the 1920's and 1930's. It saw a young Ray Charles arrive as a teenager to escape the nightmare of Jim Crow in the south. It has produced such historical jazz icons as Quincy Jones and Ernestine Anderson. In many instances it has acted as a temporary repose ...

8
Album Review

Chamber 3: Transatlantic

Read "Transatlantic" reviewed by Paul Rauch


Chamber 3 began as a trio effort started by German guitarist Christian Eckert, and Seattle based drummer Matt Jorgensen, who forged a friendship while studying at the New School in New York in the early nineties. Over the years, they engaged in many projects and tours together, culminating in this project that includes German tenor saxophonist Steffen Weber. The band added a fourth member in the person of Seattle bassist Phil Sparks for their last release, Grassroots (OA2, 2017), and ...

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Music Industry

Celebrate the End of the World Next Friday at Tula's

Celebrate the End of the World Next Friday at Tula's

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene

We all know that next Friday, December 21, 2012 (the last day on the Mayan Calendar), is sure to be the last day on Earth for all mankind … so what better way to end all existence than to join drummer Matt Jorgensen at Tula’s Jazz Club for a stellar night of music.

Jorgensen will be joined by longtime bandmates Mark Taylor (saxophone), Thomas Marriott (trumpet), Ryan Burns (piano) and Phil Sparks (bass).

The night will consist of music from ...

88

Performance / Tour

Nov 3 - Matt Jorgensen East/West Quartet with Eric Alexander and Harold Mabern

Nov 3 - Matt Jorgensen East/West Quartet with Eric Alexander and Harold Mabern

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene

Seattle Jazz Scene Presents: MATT JORGENSEN EAST/WEST QUARTET

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3—EGAN'S BALLARD JAM HOUSE

From New York: Eric Alexander—tenor saxophone Harold Mabern—piano

From Seattle: Chuck Deardorf - bass Matt Jorgensen—drums

Passing through town on their way for a weekend engagement in Vancouver, BC, saxophonist Eric Alexander and pianist Harold Mabern stop in Seattle for an intimate performance at Egan's Ballard Jam House with Seattle bassist Chuck Deardorf and ...

48

Interview

Drummer Matt Jorgensen Interviewed at All About Jazz

Drummer Matt Jorgensen Interviewed at All About Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

Matt Jorgensen is a very busy man. A drummer and composer, he plays and records with a wide variety of musicians, including his own long-running quartet 451 and popular trumpeter and label-mate Thomas Marriott. Jorgensen also co-manages the Origin Records label, a thriving concern that has released over 300 discs since 1997, and that now encompasses two associated labels, OA2 and Origin Classical. He is also a family man, and it's a family connection that provided the spark for his ...

86

Performance / Tour

Matt Jorgensen in Denver for Dale Chisman Art Show

Matt Jorgensen in Denver for Dale Chisman Art Show

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene

Drummer Matt Jorgensen is in Denver this week for the opening of Dale Chisman In Retrospect an exhibition of paintings by the noted Denver abstractionist. Jorgensen's recent recording, Tattooed by Passion, is based on the paintings of Chisman, who is his wife's late-father. The show starts this Thursday, with an opening reception at 6:00pm and runs through February 27 at RedLine (2350 Arapahoe Street, Denver). Jorgensen will be interviewed on KUVO 89.3fm radio Wednesday afternoon (1:20pm Denver time, 12:20pm Seattle ...

105

Contest

Announcing the Winners of the "Origin Records - 2-CD" Giveaway

Announcing the Winners of the "Origin Records - 2-CD" Giveaway

Source: All About Jazz


52

Radio

The Jazz Session #217: Matt Jorgensen

The Jazz Session #217: Matt Jorgensen

Source: AAJ Staff


158

Contest

Enter the Origin Records Matt Jorgensen/Chad McCullough 2-CD Giveaway

Enter the Origin Records Matt Jorgensen/Chad McCullough 2-CD Giveaway

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Origin “2-CD" giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners to receive the CD's below at the conclusion of the contest on December 6th.Click here to enter the contest

(Following Matt Jorgensen at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Origin Records

Matt Jorgensen—Tattooed by Passion

Inspired by the paintings of his late father-in-law, the prominent abstract-impressionist artist Dale Chisman, drummer Matt ...

72

Video / DVD

Video: The Making of Matt Jorgensen's "Tattooed by Passion"

Video: The Making of Matt Jorgensen's "Tattooed by Passion"

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene

Musicians Matt Jorgensen and Thomas Marriott and Denver art critic Michael Paglia talk about the making of Tattooed by Passion: music inspired by the paintings of Dale Chisman.

Matt Jorgensen's group will perform at The Triple Door next Tuesday, October 26 at 7:30pm as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival.

The group features Thomas Marriott (trumpet), Mark Taylor (saxophone), Corey Christiansen (guitar), Dave Captein (bass) and a string quartet. The paintings which inspired the music will be projected on stage ...

120

Performance / Tour

Matt Jorgensen: The Armory

Matt Jorgensen: The Armory

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene


190

Recording

Matt Jorgensen - Primal Script

Matt Jorgensen - Primal Script

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene

Matt Jorgensens New Quintet performing at Conor Byrne Pub during the Ballard Jazz Walk featuring John McLean - guitar, Thomas Marriott - trumpet, Mark Taylor - saxophone, Devin Lowe - bass and Matt Jorgensen - drums. The song, “Primal Script," is from Jorgensen's new CD, Tattooed by Passion: Music Inspired By The Paintings of Dale Chisman, which will be released in April 2010.

About Matt Jorgensen

Matt Jorgensen is a drummer, composer and arranger who formed this band, 451, to ...

"With Another Morning (Origin), Matt Jorgensen+451 continue their pathbreaking combination of jazz, rock, and funk, all without succumbing to the excesses of yore: aimless solos, straitjacketed arrangements, and second-rate riffs." —THE STRANGER "Matt Jorgensen's 451 has succeeded in creating a hip, thoughtful, emotional and sincere jazz recording. A rare and promising combination for jazz in the 21st Century." —EARSHOT JAZZ MAGAZINE "This band is godliness!" —DICK CROCKETT, 88.7FM, SACRAMENTO, CA "Their live performances are at times stunning — supertight and driving." —EARSHOT JAZZ MAGAZINE "Quiet Silence is one of the freshest, hippest, most lyrical and beautiful records I've heard all year." —STEVE SILBERMAN, WIRED MAGAZINE “No one playing in this format—with the exception of perhaps Vijay Iyer—has crafted a more distinctive jazz identity.” - ALL ABOUT JAZZ

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Seattle

Clinic/Workshop Information

In addition to performing, Matt Jorgensen is a principle at Origin Records (which includes additional imprints OA2 Records and Origin Classical), founder of the Ballard Jazz Festival and produces audio and video podcasts. He frequently is a guest speaker on Music Business and New Technology topics worldwide. Topics include: - Record Label deals and models - Building your audience - Online and Physical Distribution - Concert Production - Extensive Q&A

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Seen on the Scene

Origin Records
2021

buy

It's Not Business,...

Origin Records
2021

buy

Seen on The Scene

Origin Records
2021

buy

Postponed Parade

Odd Bird Records
2020

buy

Transatlantic

Origin Records
2018

buy

Grassroots

OA2 Records
2014

buy

Gray Skies

From: It's Not Business, It's Personal
By Matt Jorgensen

Seen on the Scene

From: Seen on the Scene
By Matt Jorgensen

In Unity

From: Dialogue
By Matt Jorgensen

Tattooed By Passion

From: Tattooed by Passion: Music...
By Matt Jorgensen

New Beginnings

From: Another Morning
By Matt Jorgensen

Videos

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