Grande-Terre

Roy Hargrove

Released on 10/18/24 by Verve
Main artists: Roy Hargrove
Genre: Jazz

Available in

16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

We tend to forget that before venturing into hip hop with Common, and exploring neo-soul with artists like D'Angelo and Erykah Badu in the early 2000s, Roy Hargrove was regarded as a brilliantly gifted trumpeter, closely linked to the conservative neo-bop movement. Though he would later cement his legacy as a pioneer of nu-jazz with his group RH Factor, his 1997 album Habana marked a key turning point. The album was recorded in 1997 after an inspiring stay in Havana with the vibrant American-Cuban ensemble, Crisol, marking a pivotal moment in Hargrove’s process of broadening and aesthetically liberating his own style. On the album, Hargrove, while still deeply rooted in tradition, began to challenge himself by embracing fusion and its inherent risks.

The unreleased session uncovered by Verve and released today under the title Grande Terre comes from this same transformative period, serving as a continuation of the Habana project. The Crisol ensemble forms the bedrock of the project’s lush soundscape. Crisol retains its Latin jazz instrumentation albeit with a mostly new lineup. While Cuban percussionists Changuito and Miguel "Angá" Diaz and trombonist Frank Lacy remain from the original group, the new faces include the Guadeloupean saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, pianists Gabriel Hernandez and Larry Willis, guitarist Ed Cherry, and drummer Willie Jones, among others. Across ten captivating tracks, Hargrove takes centre stage, delivering solos that reveal the full depth of his lyrical brilliance. The Afro-Caribbean rhythm sections, with their intricate polyrhythms, form the backbone of the album, framed by arrangements that are equally as danceable as they are sophisticated. The trumpeter’s electrifying work creates a soundscape where instrumental virtuosity can thrive, and the joy of performance creates an atmosphere of pure pleasure. Grande Terre exists at the crossroads of culture, blending Cuban and African-American traditions to reconnect with their shared musical roots. It’s a celebration of rhythm, soul, and artistry, capturing Hargrove’s creative evolution at a pivotal moment in his career. © Stéphane Ollivier/Qobuz

More info

Grande-Terre

Roy Hargrove

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

From $10.83/month

Rumba Roy

00:06:52

Gabriel Hernandez, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Willis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Miguel "Anga" Diaz, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Hargrove, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Lacy, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - John Lee, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sherman Irby, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Julio Barreto, Drums, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ed Cherry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Henri Debs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Clothier, Producer - Gerald Cannon, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Changuito Quintana, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer