Hard Groove

Roy Hargrove | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B000084T3J
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,749 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

HARGROVE ROY HARD GROOVE

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, eclectic album, June 13, 2003

By 

souldrummer (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hard Groove (Audio CD)

This is an album that reveals as much about the perspective of the listener as about the music itself. Are you coming at this from a pure jazz perspective? There isn't too much straight ahead stuff on this album and you may be with the critics that bashed Roy for making something more accessible than typical jazz fare. Hoping for a jazz-hip-hop hybrid? To me this is one of the more successful combinations because Roy toured with the soulquarians and has immersed himself for the past few years in this music. He's willing to be lyrical when the time comes. I especially enjoy the track "How I Know" for example. I don't know what neo-soul fans are going to make of this and I'm curious to see how the album does saleswise. I dig the Erykah Badu/Q-Tip combination [some of Q-Tip's better recent work] "Poetry". Always happy to see a D'Angelo sighting and I'm hoping he comes out with a new solo project soon. Common's stuff is off the cuff and Ray's solo makes that track. One thing that grew on me was the production. Several tracks have Roy's trumpet electronically doctored and I feel that it works for the most part.

This album is a fun neo-soul/jazz fusion that is worth a good listen. Went into heavy rotation on my walkman for a couple of weeks once I got it. Not earth shattering, but definitely worth the purchase.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot Hard Groove, May 20, 2003

By 

A. Leiber "margret_l" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Groove (Audio CD)

Yes, I fell in love with "Hard Groove". It is the best attempt of a Jazz musician ever to fuse Jazz with Hip-Hop, Soul & R&B - and time for it to appear after years of disappointing efforts (sorry, Branford Marsalis, Don Byron). "Hard Groove" lightfootedly manages to bridge the gap in a firework display of Hardbop and Funk elements, with reference to the soundtracks of Blaxploitation films and to Hip-Hop, with wonderful Soul and R&B ballads, perfectly timed and elegantly arranged.
The rappers Common and Q-Tip, Erykah Badu and D'Angelo as well as internationally acclaimed Jazz musicians Meshell Ndegeocello, Pino Palladino, Cornell Dupree and Steve Coleman make the CD a strong statement of cooperation. In addition, "Hard Groove" gives room to Hargrove as a brilliant, extremely versatile soloist and as a remarkable composer. Roy, that CD is almost perfect and a gift. Love to you!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "R"ight "H"ook Hits "R"eal "H"ard, February 3, 2005

By 

Orion (Everywhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Groove (Audio CD)

I first heard this album in Bahia Brazil and everybody was vibing it. It was magic. A pure connect! Big up's to Mr. Hargrove for pulling this/us together/up. A few years ago, I checked out Roy, Marc Cary, Steve Coleman, Jacques Schwarz-Bart and Daniel Moreno at an underground party in NY where they use to jam and it was on fire. His RH Factor is so hot its smoke is definitely sanctified!
Peace