This live recording of "Grinder" appears on Justin Chart's 2024 album Born of The Horn. An original Chart composition, the piece is set in F minor with a funk feel at a slow to moderate groove around 92 BPM. The recording features three solos that build progressively in length and intensity. Keyboardist Mike Saul opens with an extended solo, exploring the dark harmonic territory of F minor over the grinding funk pocket. Trumpeter Mike Rocha follows with a focused statement, bringing bright melodic lines that contrast with the moody tonality. Chart closes the solo section with the longest solo of the three on alto saxophone, delivering a sprawling improvisation that stretches across more than a minute of playing time. The slow funk groove gives the tune a heavy, deliberate quality that lives up to its title, with the rhythm section laying down an insistent pocket that drives the performance. The F minor tonality reinforces the dark, intense character of the piece. The gradual expansion of solo length from Saul through Rocha to Chart creates a satisfying dramatic arc, with each successive statement raising the stakes.
