The RH Factor - Hard Groove (2003) [Verve]

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.

Personnel:
Roy Hargrove - Producer. Arranger, Bass, Piano, Trumpet, Vocals (Background), Keyboards, Flugelhorn, Percussion
Bernard Wright - Piano, Vocals (Background), Keyboards, Arp, Organ (Hammond)
James Poyser - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Bobby Sparks - Keyboards, Arp, Organ (Hammond), Fender Rhodes, Clavinet
Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Guitar (Acoustic), Sax (Tenor), Sax (Soprano), Saxophone, Flute
Donte Winslow - Vocals (Background), Finger Snaps, Drum Machine
Gene Lake - Drums
Pino Palladino - Bass
Keith Anderson - Saxophone, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto)
G. Craig "Butter" Glanville - Drums, Vocals (Background)
Keith Loftis - Sax (Tenor)
John Arthur Lee - Bass
Marc Cary - Wurlitzer
Maurice Brown - Trumpet, Vocals (Background)
Reggie Washington - Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
Craig Glanville - Drum Machine
Daniel Moreno - Percussion
Cornell Dupree - Guitar
Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng - Percussion
Willie Jones III - Drums
Chalmers "Spanky" Alford - Guitar
Jason Thomas - Drums, Vocals (Background)
Me'Shell Ndegéocello - Bass, Guest Appearance
Renee Neufville - Vocals, Guest Appearance
Steve Coleman - Sax (Alto), Guest Appearance
Karl Denson - Flute, Guest Appearance
Stephanie McKay - Vocals, Guest Appearance
Erykah Badu - Vocals, Guest Appearance
Anthony Hamilton - Vocals, Guest Appearance
Common - Vocals, Guest Appearance
Q-Tip - Vocals, Guest Appearance
D'Angelo - Vocals, Vocals (Background), Wurlitzer, Guest Appearance
Shelly Johnson - Vocals, Guest Appearance

Tracklist:
1. Hardgroove [Wright] - 5:31
2. Common Free Style [Hargrove, Lynn, Poyser] - 5:57
3. I'll Stay [Clinton, Hazel] - 7:50
4. Interlude [Hargrove, Jones, Washington] - 0:59
5. Pastor "T" [Anderson] - 5:44
6. Poetry [Fareed, Hargrove, Wright] - 5:48
7. Joint [Hargrove] - 5:41
8. Forget Regret [Schartz-Bart] - 3:52
9. Out of Town [Hargrove] - 3:58
10. Liquid Streets [Hargrove] - 4:59
11. Kwah/Home [Hargrove] - 6:00
12. How I Know [Alford, Hargrove, Johnson, Palladino] - 4:56
13. Juicy [Hargrove, Mandel, Neufville] - 6:34
14. Stroke [Hargrove] - 4:28

Total time: 01:12:23
Recorded on January-September 2002