"With Passion And Wonder" is an original composition by alto saxophonist Justin Chart, first appearing on his 2022 album The Scarlet Jazz Room on Universal Music Group and subsequently featured on his 2024 release Born of The Horn. The piece is characterized by a laid-back groove and an atmospheric, contemplative quality, with inventive improvisations exchanged between Chart on alto saxophone and trumpeter Mike Rocha. On The Scarlet Jazz Room, the tune contributed to the album's cinematic, noir-inspired atmosphere, described by reviewers as simmering with passion through serpentine melodic lines and darkly hued refrains, evoking the mood of a film soundtrack. The saxophone melody carries a quality of yearning, complemented by burnished trumpet tones that glide over the ensemble's rhythmic foundation. Chart is a Los Angeles-based saxophonist and composer whose original works span several albums, all emphasizing soulful, tonal jazz with carefully structured compositions that leave generous room for spontaneous interplay. On the Born of The Horn recording, the sole solo is taken by Mike Rocha on trumpet, allowing his lyrical voice to occupy the full improvisational space within the composition's atmospheric framework. "With Passion And Wonder" exemplifies Chart's gift for writing pieces that balance composed structure with improvisational openness, creating an intimate sonic environment. The tune has been recorded exclusively by Chart's own ensembles.
