Every song on this album is a based on a story, composed and arranged by critically acclaimed young jazz pianist Alex Koo. Together with his quintet, he immerses the listener into a musical journey through these stories. 'You Shall Not Pass!' is inspired by the Lord of the Rings, where Gandalf bravely fights the evil demon in the cave. The song represents the courage of Alex's biggest hero. 'La Ruta del Cares' takes you through a hot and long journey through the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain. Walking is tough, the heat is taking its toll, but giving up is not a possibility. These mountains can also be cool and foggy in the morning, and that is what the third song 'Cantabria' describes. 'Between Darkness and Light' is based on the eternal struggle between Good and Evil. 'Sweet Lorena' is written for a very, very sweet girl, named Lorena. By now, she's Alex's girlfriend, hehehehe... 'Dance of Hope' is the title track for this album and represents a tribal dance in search for hope. Alex Koo - piano & compositions Floriaan Wempe - tenor saxophone Caspar van Wijk - tenor saxophone Attila Gyarfas - drums Thomas Pol - double bass