Hard Groove

• Artist: The RH Factor
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Genre: Jazz

Review

A new musical vision for ace jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove has manifested itself in the form of Hard Groove. This neo-soul/jazz project showcases Erykah Badu, Common, D'Angelo, Marc Cary, and jam band icon saxophonist Karl Denson on a 14-track set that is laden with funk, groove, freestyle rap poetry, and sultry hip-hop/R&B mood swings. Hargrove's interesting horn and keyboard improvisations stem from extensive knowledge of each musician's work and, perhaps even more importantly, from close personal friendships developed as an underground club jam session warrior in N.Y.C. He also plays flügelhorn and percussion, and adds background vocals on several compositions. Opening with "Hardgroove," the set eases into a groove that is skillfully combined with Hargrove's meticulous riffs and segues into the band's free interpretation of an all-out jam session. "Common Free Style" is just that, a free rap session crammed with intimate details. This team-up works, and Common's prose style is exemplary in his choice of words and inspiring atmosphere. As one of the ladies who sings with the band, Grammy-winning Erykah Badu presents a valuable addition to the literature of hip-hop and jazz on several levels. On "Poetry," her rap is an entertaining and unpretentious chronicle of knowing the way to go in life, recounted with honesty and sincerity. Overall, Roy Hargrove has evolved as a hipper version of himself and given his listeners an entirely new musical direction than that heard on his Grammy-winning release Habana or his sensuous ballad recording Moment to Moment. Hard Groove is simply an exploration of his multidimensional musical attributes and his belated recognition of years of "open-eared moonlighting." In any case, the ultra-hip trumpeter manages not to alienate his die-hard jazz fans by intersecting with many of the icons of hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul. Highly recommended. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Hardgroove	B.J. Wright	The RH Factor	(5:31)
Common Free Style	Roy Hargrove, James Poyser	The RH Factor	(5:57)
I'll Stay	Eddie Hazel, George Clinton	The RH Factor	(7:50)
Interlude	Roy Hargrove, Stephen Jones, Esantis Washington	The RH Factor	(0:59)
Pastor "T"		The RH Factor	(5:44)
Poetry	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(5:48)
The Joint	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(5:41)
Forget Regret	Jacques Schwarz-Bart	The RH Factor	(3:52)
Out of Town	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(3:58)
Liquid Streets	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(4:59)
Kwah/Home	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(6:00)
How I Know	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(4:56)
Juicy	Roy Hargrove, Johnny Mandel	The RH Factor	(6:34)
The Stroke	Roy Hargrove	The RH Factor	(4:28)

Credits

Steve Coleman (Sax (Alto)), Steve Coleman (Guest Appearance), Roy Hargrove (Bass), Roy Hargrove (Percussion), Roy Hargrove (Piano), Roy Hargrove (Trumpet), Roy Hargrove (Arranger), Roy Hargrove (Flugelhorn), Roy Hargrove (Keyboards), Roy Hargrove (Vocals (Background)), Roy Hargrove (Producer), Bernard Wright (Piano), Bernard Wright (Keyboards), Bernard Wright (Organ (Hammond)), Bernard Wright (Vocals (Background)), Bernard Wright (Arp), Marc Cary (Wurlitzer), Larry Clothier (Executive Producer), D'Angelo (Vocals), D'Angelo (Vocals (Background)), D'Angelo (Wurlitzer), D'Angelo (Guest Appearance), Cornell Dupree (Guitar), Russell Elevado (Producer), Russell Elevado (Engineer), Russell Elevado (Mixing), Chris Gehringer (Mastering), Shelly Johnson (Vocals), Shelly Johnson (Guest Appearance), Gene Lake (Drums), Me'Shell Ndegéocello (Bass), Me'Shell Ndegéocello (Guest Appearance), Renee Neufville (Vocals), Renee Neufville (Guest Appearance), Jason Olaine (Producer), Pino Palladino (Bass), James Poyser (Piano), James Poyser (Keyboards), James Poyser (Vocals (Background)), James Poyser (Fender Rhodes), Q-Tip (Vocals), Q-Tip (Guest Appearance), Reggie Washington (Bass), Reggie Washington (Bass (Acoustic)), Karl Denson (Flute), Karl Denson (Guest Appearance), Craig Glanville (Drum Machine), Stephanie McKay (Vocals), Stephanie McKay (Guest Appearance), Bobby Sparks (Keyboards), Bobby Sparks (Organ (Hammond)), Bobby Sparks (Clavinet), Bobby Sparks (Arp), Bobby Sparks (Fender Rhodes), Jason Thomas (Drums), Jason Thomas (Vocals (Background)), John Arthur Lee (Bass), Erykah Badu (Vocals), Erykah Badu (Guest Appearance), Anthony Hamilton (Vocals), Anthony Hamilton (Guest Appearance), Daniel Moreno (Percussion), Hans Neleman (Photography), Hollis King (Art Direction), Hollis King (Design), Common (Vocals), Common (Guest Appearance), Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng (Percussion), Steve Mandel (Engineer), John Newcott (Release Coordinator), Rudy Guiterrez (Illustrations), Donte Winslow (Vocals (Background)), Donte Winslow (Drum Machine), Donte Winslow (Finger Snaps), Willie Jones III (Drums), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Flute), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Saxophone), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Sax (Soprano)), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Sax (Tenor)), Kelly Pratt (Release Coordinator), Chalmers "Spanky" Alford (Guitar), Keith Anderson (Saxophone), Keith Anderson (Sax (Alto)), Keith Anderson (Sax (Tenor)), G. Craig "Butter" Glanville (Drums), G. Craig "Butter" Glanville (Vocals (Background)), Keith Loftis (Sax (Tenor)), Sachico Asano (Design), Maurice Brown (Trumpet), Maurice Brown (Vocals (Background)), Tony Suggs (Organ (Hammond))