Emergence

Jazz | Sep 2009

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2009-10-17
ROY HARGROVE BIG BAND: Emergence
Emarcy, 2009

MODERN JAZZ – Trumpet star Hargrove stretches out from his usual small combo to lead a 19-piece ensemble. It’s straight as an arrow, very much in the big band tradition with even-keeled solos and crisp, precise ensemble sections. This is conservative for KZSU – too often it sounds like the orchestra at a televised awards show – but it has its moments.

* * * | Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 8, 11

1. 4:11 – slow and grand, somewhere between fanfare and a ballad
2. 5:28 – greasy strut: sassy horns and a swinging beat
3. 5:56 – standard: creeps slowly, nice flugelhorn against mopey backgrounds
4. 6:34 – bouncy latin groove: brash yet fluid trumpet, speedy flute, hot ending
5. 13:31 – start & end are smarmy, but everything else is great: big sweep, deepens for fiery sax, builds to huge stride, querulous trombone.
6. 6:53 – Vegas, baby! breezy sway, punchy horns, classy piano… Roy sings!
7. 5:51 – romantic vocal by Roberta Gambarini; starts slow, but picks up
8. 3:24 – sexy cha-cha-cha, nice vocals in Spanish and peppy horns
9. 5:36 – slinky soul, horns make it flamboyant; cool-toned guitar & trumpet
10. 7:12 – dynamic contrast as big phrases jostle with small-group sections
11. 4:22 – slow, steady ballad: moves from small & intimate to big & brassy

[ Fo ] 10/17/09

Recent airplay

Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
The Rent PartyDec 18, 2009
Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
Memory SelectDec 15, 2009
Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
No Cover, No MinimumDec 04, 2009
Roy Allan
Over the Full Moon Hump!Dec 02, 2009
La Puerta
Smartie PopNov 24, 2009
Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
No Cover, No MinimumNov 20, 2009

Charting

2009-10-25 — 2009-12-27 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Dec 20 2
Dec 6 2
Nov 29 1
Nov 22 1
Nov 15 1
Nov 8 2
Nov 1 1

Track listing

1. Velera
2. Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
3. My Funny Valentine
4. Mambo For Roy
5. Requiem
6. September In The Rain
7. Everytime We Say Goodbye
8. La Puerta
9. Roy Allan
10. Tschpiso
11. Trust