Welcome to the Midst

Welcome to the Midst is an original composition by alto saxophonist Justin Chart, appearing on his 2024 album Born of The Horn. The tune was first recorded on Chart's 2022 live album The Midnight People, captured at The Mixx in Pasadena, California, where it emerged from Chart's practice of spontaneous composition during live performances, cueing key and tempo for his ensemble to create coherent originals in the moment. The composition is built on a funky rhythmic foundation that supports vibrant interplay between alto saxophone and trumpet, generating an exhilarating, jam-oriented atmosphere. Reviews in the LA Jazz Scene praised the tune for its energetic horn solos and the conversational dynamic between Chart and trumpeter Mike Rocha, whose partnership serves as the core of the piece. On Born of The Horn, the tune receives an expanded treatment with six solos from Chart on alto saxophone, Saul on keyboard, Rocha on trumpet, and Beallo on drums, reflecting the composition's capacity to sustain extended improvisation across multiple voices. The piece channels the spirit of spontaneous creation that defines much of Chart's artistic identity, prioritizing raw musical interaction and melodic logic over rigid arrangement. Welcome to the Midst remains exclusive to Chart's own recordings and stands as a representative example of his live-energy aesthetic carried into the studio.