Roy Hargrove Quintet - Earfood (2008)

Posted By : marmaduke0 | Date : 14 Jan 2010 21:50:00 | Comments : 5 |

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In the liner notes, trumpeter Roy Hargrove declares that Earfood was recorded to bring pleasure to the listener. This may seem like a superfluous statement, after all, which artist doesn't want to please the listening public? What Hargrove means, is that the aim of the game is to offer up catchy melodies with a minimum of unnecessary artistic baggage; tunes as opposed to ambience, sweet harmony in place of dissonance. There isn't a fractured rhythm within earshot, nor an obscure time signature, just unpretentious, good-time music. Opening with pianist Cedar Walton's "I'm Not Sure," Hargrove and saxophonist Justin Robinson splice together Lee Morgan-type harmonies on the main theme, before Hargrove takes the first of several impressive solos with which he peppers the set. Robinson in turn picks up where Hargrove left off, followed by pianist Gerald Clayton and all unite on the head in classic old-school fashion. The up-tempo tunes mostly follow the same pattern.

Unapologetically, Hargrove's stated intention is to honor tradition, and the result at times is music which is overly familiar-sounding; the band do indeed sound like they know each other's moves inside out, and are comfortable with the well-trodden path of familiarity. This is not to take away from the excellent musicianship, for there is plenty to admire in this quintet, particularly from Hargrove and Robinson, it just makes for a rather slick and polished finished article.

Hargrove's voice comes from a long line of trumpeters from Dizzy Gillespie and Lee Morgan, to Miles and Marsalis and his command of the trumpet is complete; he demonstrates this control on the faster, boppish numbers, and a Wynton Marsalis-like tone on slower pieces like the lovely, self-penned "Joy is Sorrow Unmasked," an album highlight, which walks a delicate line between warm and blue.
Funking things up a tad on the late Weldon Irvine Jr's '70s classic "Mr. Clean," first Hargrove and then Robinson take fiery solos which seem to inspire Gerald Clayton to his most dynamic playing on the keys, while bassist Danton Boller and drummer Montez Coleman mark a steady groove. The song is crying out however, for some serious unleashing of the drums to take things to another level.
The track "Divine," pairs trumpet with piano in a mellow exchange over a subtle bass and brushes accompaniment, and the sparseness of the arrangement and economy of the playing contrasts pleasingly with all the brass harmonies, and head-solo-solo-solo-head which characterizes many of the tunes. It is a fine number, which showcases Hargrove's writing abilities. The Kurt Weil/Ogden Nash tune, "Speak Low" sounds like a coda to "Divine," and would have been the perfect closer to the disc. As it is, Earfood closes out with a soulful, buoyant, live rendition of Sam Cooke's "Bring it On Home To Me" which takes off from the first bar; Hargrove blows briefly in lively manner, and you'd expect some serious closing remarks from all, but alas, the tune parks itself just a little too soon.
For the ear, remember. For fun seekers. Review On allaboutjazz.com

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Track listing:
1 I'm Not So Sure
2 Brown
3 Strasbourg/St. Denis
4 Starmaker
5 Joy is Sorrow Unmasked
6 The Singer
7 Rouge
8 Mr. Clean
9 Style
10 Divine
11 To Wisdom the Prize
12 Speak Low
13 Bring it on Home to Me

Personnel:
Roy Hargrove: Trumpet and flugelhorn
Justin Robinson: alto sax and flute
Gerald Clayton: piano
Danton Boller: bass
Montez Coleman: drums

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Posted By: Blue61 Date: 15 Jan 2010 03:22:46

Thank you very much from Spain.
Muchas gracias !!!

Posted By: AudioMusic Date: 15 Jan 2010 21:48:16

Thanks you, excellent!

Posted By: crook3d Date: 17 Jan 2010 06:19:50

I'm not familiar with Hargrove, but you've got me interested. Thanks for turning me onto something new, marmaduke.

Posted By: fastantico Date: 20 Jan 2010 01:08:54

Fantastic, thanks a lot!

Posted By: lokiguy Date: 10 Apr 2011 16:59:55

Thanks, marmaduke. What a sound he has.
Links are still good and ~ 3 times faster than normal.
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edit
I thought the samples were really good, I was wrong.
This is fantastic. One of the best in the last year.

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