Emergence

Roy Hargrove | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emarcy / Pgd
• ASIN: B002H0W6MG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,142 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #81 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Contemporary Big Band
  • #82 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Classic Big Band

Editorial Reviews

You've got to wonder what kind of musician would even think to take a 19-piece band into the studio and out on the road, especially with the nation's current economic condition, That kind of musician would be Roy Hargrove, the veteran jazz trumpeter and composer whose first big band album, Emergence (Groovin' High/Emarcy), is released August 25th. "At this point this is probably the worst thing I could ever do, financially speaking," admits Hargrove. "But it's something that needs to be done, spiritually and musically speaking."

For Hargrove, whose previous release, 2008's quintet session Earfood (Groovin' High/Emarcy), found its way into dozens of jazz critics' year-end Top 10 lists, recording Emergence was not some crazy impulse decision but rather the realization of a dream. The Texas-born musician assembled the first incarnation of the big band back in 1995 for a New York jazz festival, then returned to the format on a more frequent basis several years ago.

The 11-track Emergence documents the present state of the Roy Hargrove Big Band's ongoing evolution. In addition to Hargrove on trumpet and flugelhorn, the ensemble consists of four other trumpet players (Frank Greene, Greg Gisbert, Darren Barrett, Ambrose Akinmisure), four trombonists (Jason Jackson, Vincent Chandler, Saunders Sermons, and Max Seigel on bass trombone), five reedists (Bruce Williams, alto saxophone and flute; Justin Robinson, alto and flute; Norbert Stachel, tenor sax and flute; Keith Loftis, tenor and flute; and Jason Marshall, baritone sax and flute), as well as pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Danton Boller, guitarist Saul Rubin, drummer Montez Coleman and percussionist Roland Guerrero. Vocalist Roberta Gambarini contributes her vocal charms to two tracks. Emergence was recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood with Hargrove and his manager Larry Clothier producing and the multi-Grammy winner Al Schmitt engineering and mixing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!!, September 3, 2009

By 

Alberto Egoavil - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emergence (Audio CD)

I'm Roy's fan since many years ago, and this record keep the flame of true jazz.No doubt is one of the best records of the year and jazz big band Grammy winner.Pure beautiful.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roy Hargrove "Emergence", October 11, 2009

By 

S. Ivan Ladizinsky "Ivan Ladizinsky" (Studio City, Ca.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emergence (Audio CD)

Fantastic! The best big band album I've heard in years on every level: performance, recording, and an eclectic selection of tunes ranging from a haunting, almost dark rendition of "My Funny Valentine" to a couple of Cuban band pieces that almost got me in trouble driving north on the 405 at one in the morning! The band is so tight, I thought Basie's band had been reincarnated! I purchased this album for a couple of other big band fans I know and it knocked their socks off! Buy this album now and crank it up! Roy Hargrove made me proud to be an American again. Thanks bro! Would love to see these guys live!

Ivan Ladizinsky
Studio City, Ca.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ROY HARGROVE BIG BAND.......FINALLY, August 28, 2009

By 

Martin Munoz "best jazz fan in P.R." (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emergence (Audio CD)

This is one of the best big band records I heard. And the sound is really great, Roy is a trumpet virtuoso and he could mix streigtahead jazz and latin perfectly, Roberta Gambarini did it great. Please don't confuse this band with the Dizzy Gilespie Bid Band in which Roy and Roberta played but this band in my opinion sounds better, highly recomended.