“...Every note you play is important! No filler. Respect the rhythm section. If you can't say it in two or three choruses...keep it in the case.”
Video courtesy of iRock Jazz .
Roy on writing for Big Band and working with his band. From an interview with BBC3 in London in 2008.
See the Roy Hargrove Big Band live - this Thursday at the Jazz Gallery!
Live and live stream tickets available now https://jazzgallery.org/calendar/rhbb-apr-4-2024
“This is how I learned how to play, by listening and absorbing this music, from every part of its history. You know, not leaving out any part of it. If we wanna know where we’re going we have to know where we’ve been. (…) First of all we have to learn it, you know, before we start to change it"
- Roy Hargrove
PS: “If it's not swinging then what's the point” 😜
“Listening is such a big part of this thing. Listening…and absorbing it. Because this is how we learn the language that we’re speaking, you know. Don’t move, don’t do anything, just let your ears take it in.”
- Roy Hargrove
Full interview rebroadcast Dec. 16th at 12p EST https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001t9vj
“We would have better rhythm section players during jam sessions if horn owners were a bit more courteous. No more than three per song and fewer choruses. This will give the congregation room to breathe and thrive with positive energy.”
- Roy Hargrove
“When I show up at a jam session, I don't want to listen to cats practicing. Every note you play is important! No filler. Respect the rhythm section. If you can't say it in two or three choruses…keep it in the case.”
- Roy Hargrove
Young musicians: Get these records
Clifford Jordan - mosaic
Kenny Dorham - live at the Cafe Bohemia
Eric Dolphy - out to lunch!
Art Blakey - soul finger
Duke Pearson - honeybuns
- Roy Hargrove
“Here's what I don't get: it's clearly the end of your solo, but something tells you to take not another, but three or more choruses extra. STOP YOURSELF! Humility goes a long way.”
- Roy Hargrove
Young musicians: Get these records
Shirley Horn - travelin light
Nat King Cole - live at the Sands
Dexter Gordon - biting the Apple
Dizzy Gillespie - the Champ
Miles Davis - bags groove
Roy Hargrove
Full playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JD2DctkNWfbLw2LziuBFL?si=072d8be5abfc4168
“I asked Clifford Jordan why he tapped his foot on one and three. He replied ‘If you tap your foot on two and four then where do you clap your hands?’”
- Roy Hargrove
It’s that time. Higher Learning Playlist Part 2:
Listening recommendations from Roy.
If you missed the first one you can catch up below, we reposted it.
Note: Clifford Brown Three Giants and Sonny Rollins Plus 4 are the same album - so either one will do :)
Video courtesy of iRock Jazz.