This live recording of "Welcome to the Midst" from Justin Chart's 2024 album Born of The Horn is one of the album's most ambitious performances, featuring six solos from four different musicians. Chart's original composition is set in A minor with a driving funk feel that begins at approximately 208 BPM and gradually accelerates to around 225 BPM by the conclusion of the solo section. Chart opens on alto saxophone before keyboardist Mike Saul takes over with his first solo. Trumpeter Mike Rocha follows with an energetic statement, after which Saul returns for a second keyboard solo. Chart then re-enters for an extended second alto saxophone solo at the heightened tempo. Drummer Danny Beallo closes the performance with a powerful drum solo at the peak tempo of 225 BPM. The fast funk feel creates an exhilarating rhythmic foundation, and the steady tempo increase across the six solos generates an irresistible sense of forward momentum. The A minor tonality provides a raw, urgent harmonic backdrop that matches the intensity of the playing. The live capture preserves the electric energy of the performance, making this track a showcase for the ensemble's collective stamina and improvisational daring.
