Drumroll, please: This is Matt Jorgensen's week

It's hard to imagine Seattle jazz these days without drummer Matt Jorgensen.

One of the partners behind Origin Records, not to men-

tion the Ballard Jazz Festival, seattlejazzscene.com, Sunday jazz at the Hendrix Lounge (in Columbia City) ... this guy never seems to run out of projects.

This week, however, is not about Jorgensen the playa, but the player. Thursday, the 35-year-old dynamo celebrates the release of "Another Morning" (Origin), the new album by his group, Matt Jorgensen + 451. But he's also on the other two best jazz tickets in town.

"It's rare that I get to do three really cool gigs in a week," said Jorgensen in a phone interview from his car. "After that, 451's going out on the road for a week, then I'm getting ready for the Ballard Festival. I'll figure out the rest from there."

And you thought you were busy.

Jorgensen + 451 performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Triple Door ($15; 206-838-4333 or www.thetripledoor.net) with Mark Taylor (saxophones), Ryan Burns (keyboards) and Phil Sparks (bass), plus guests Thomas Marriott (trumpet) and Jason Goessl (guitar), who play on the album.

Jorgensen, who moved back to Seattle from New York in 2002, is an aggressive, polyrhythmic drummer who creates a furious tapestry in the tradition of Tony Williams, especially the Williams of the jazz/rock group Lifetime, whose 1997 album "Emergency!" still sounds contemporary today.

Indeed, there is a sense of urgency to Jorgensen's new disc, as well as the anthemic optimism of jazz/rock, with its big keyboard textures and accessible tunes, such as Neil Young's "Ohio" and Joe Henderson's "Power to the People."

"Maybe angry optimism is a better way to put it," said Jorgensen, who recently became a father, as did bandmate Taylor. "It's like, it's time to either get moving or get out of the way. There's no way you cannot be affected by what's going on in the world today."

Jorgensen's album also highlights Burns' lyrical songwriting — the tender "Birds" and gentle "Entomology."

"I think it's the most complete sound of the band, from start to finish, of any record we've done to date," said Jorgensen.

Of course, the drummer is happy about his new disc, but he also says he's "honored" to be playing with veteran saxophonist Hadley Caliman, who tonight celebrates the release of one of the most compelling discs of his career, "Gratitude" (also on Origin). With vibist Joe Locke and trumpeter Marriott, playing with a newly relaxed abandon, and arrangements by Tom's brother Dave, "Gratitude" is a magnificent showcase for a musician too often overlooked by the world at large.

Caliman's band performs at 8:30 tonight at Tula's ($20; 206-443-4221 or www.tulas.com). The show is nearly sold out, but folks usually start clearing out by 10:30 or 11 p.m., so it's still worth trying to make the late set (they'll play three sets).

On Saturday, Jorgensen plays in a different atmosphere, with the Jim Knapp Orchestra, for the premiere of Knapp's "Movements for Flute and Jazz Orchestra," written for flutist Paul Taub. Commissioned by Cornish to honor Knapp's founding of the school's jazz program 35 years ago, "Movements" is a beautifully subdued, tonally ambiguous suite displaying a delicious variety of wind textures and forms.

Taub plays flute, alto flute and piccolo on "Movements," which includes a canon — fancy word for round — a samba and a waltz.

"The Knapp gig is like a rite of passage," said Jorgensen, who has been working with the orchestra six months. "John Bishop was my teacher 20 years ago. Every once in a while, I'll find some of his handwriting on one of the charts."

The Jim Knapp Orchestra performs "Movements" at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Poncho Concert Hall at Cornish College ($7.50-$15; 206-325-6500 or www.ticketwindowonline.com).

Paul de Barros: 206-464-3247 or pdebarros@seattletimes.com