Re: [acid-jazz] disc review: roy hargrove: hardgroove

From: Mark Allerton (mark_at_warmspot.compulink.co.uk)
Date: 2003-06-06 20:56:15

  • Next message: BRIAN: "[acid-jazz] In my CD changer/on my turntables"

    Got to agree on this one - this is the #1 CD in my player right now. I
    was similarly skeptical about this being a marketing department job,
    but it really is 100% solid. "Poetry" is my favourite track on there,
    but I am also really feeling the final sequence of tunes from "Liquid
    Streets" onward. The word that springs to mind is "lush". Gene Lake's
    drumming on "Poetry" is just blinding - he's doing a real broken beat
    style thing there.

    I wrote a bit about it on my blog (hey, doesn't everyone have one these
    days) a few weeks back:
    http://homepage.mac.com/mark.allerton/archives/2003_05.html (May 21)

    ..Mark..

    On Friday, June 6, 2003, at 11:36 AM, mga wrote:

    > If there was ever a major, well hyped release that seemed predestined
    > to
    > dissapoint this is it; Roy Hargrove does neo-soul? The road is paved
    > with
    > obstacles.
    >
    > First off, from a marketing standpoint, "neo-soul" is now out of favor
    > with
    > labels. I don't think any artist who comes along with a natural
    > hairstyle,
    > fender rhodes, and moderately elevated lyrics is going to get showered
    > with
    > a massive advance, as there are a glut of these types of artists and
    > very
    > few have proven to be marketable.
    >
    > Second off, from an artistic standpoint, the sound seems a little
    > stale, as
    > well... it was so hip when d'angelo, the roots, etc., got busy in the
    > early,
    > mid -90's. But, the imitators (like me) watered it down with much
    > inferior
    > product. And while the major figures continue to put out innovative
    > releases
    > and follow their own paths, the airwaves have gotten pretty crowded
    > with the
    > sound and its offshoots.
    >
    > Third, given the recent history of the major jazz labels, by the time
    > they
    > catch on to a musical trend it is almost always dead and buried in the
    > clubs
    > and on the street.
    >
    > So, with the theoretical bs dispensed with, this is a HOT album, in my
    > opinion, and you should BUY it, and then you should immediately BUY
    > another
    > copy for the person you want to be your boyfriend / girlfriend.... and
    > if
    > they don't like it... well, you can move on to someone with better
    > taste....
    > yes, this is some sweet SEXY jazz. The year's only half done, but if
    > this
    > isn't my album of the year... oh man, there must be a true jam coming
    > out
    > from somewhere!!!
    >
    > The grooves are... SMOKING.... the jazz is.... ON FIRE.... the songs
    > are,
    > MOVING and SEXY... the sound is.... DRY, crisp and tight..... The
    > ensemble
    > playing is.... PRECISE and ON POINT... the arrangements.... two
    > words....
    > ROY HARGROVE.....
    >
    > it's all about the drums... the drummer is the most important musician
    > at
    > any date, seems to me. interesting that the ubiquitous rim-shotter
    > ?love is
    > not here... but the grooves are real hot, played by Jason Thomas and
    > Willie
    > Jones III..
    >
    > i like "pastor t" (jason thomas) and "out of town" (wj III).... these
    > are
    > particularly hot, with great saxophone from keith anderson and steve
    > coleman. some of these songs are going straight into the real book,
    > guaranteed.... musicians are going to love this album.... like they
    > love
    > herbie's thrust and freddie hubbard's "straight life".... finally, an
    > american jazz artist comes out with tracks that are tough AND
    > accesible, ala
    > truffaz and other continental and uk artists....
    >
    > It gets real sweaty on track 3.... funkadellic's "I'll Stay" .... why
    > not,
    > with D'Angelo on the Wurly, Bernard Wright on organ, Pino Palladino on
    > bass,
    > Spanky Chalmers Alford on guitar, and... oh yeah, Roy Hargrove....
    > but, what
    > about "The Joint" with Bobby Sparks on the Arp!!! what a GROOVE!!!! Roy
    > shines here... his horn arrangements are very interesting, and he is a
    > very
    > good writer.
    >
    > or take another example... they've got a track (poetry) with Q Tip,
    > Erykah
    > Badu, Meshell Ndegeocello, Marc Cary, and more... man, if there was
    > ever a
    > track destined to not live up to its hype, this would be it... but, it
    > is a
    > REALLY REALLY good song that gets hot after about 2:30 seconds in, and
    > is as
    > good as anything Erykah Badu done recently. (special mention to the
    > drummer
    > Gene Lake here... very nice...!!)
    >
    > and speaking of good songs, another standout is Jaques Schwarz-Bart on
    > saxophone, flute, and acoustic guitar... he also contributed a great
    > original song, Forget Regret, with vocals by Stephanie McKay, that is
    > a true
    > highlight and must have remixers around the globe salivating with mice
    > at
    > the ready...
    >
    > what more can i say? i really like this album and look forward to
    > listening
    > to it for the next couple of days! check it OUT... i'm glad i bought
    > it...
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
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    >