Sitting In
Roy Hargrove at Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park (8.25.07)
How geeked was I to see baby-faced trumpet titan Roy Hargove emerge from backstage during vocalist Lezlie Harrison's opening set at day one of the 15th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival! Hargrove, a friend of Harrison and second act pianist Marc Cary, giddily hopped onto whatever song he could throughout the sweltering day's festivities without appearing to break a sweat. He even joined Cassandra Wilson, a last minute sub for an ill Abbey Lincoln during her freewheeling set (Wilson explained Sunday at Tompkins Square Park that she had only stopped by at her friend, event producer Alexa Birdsong's request to get some macaroni and jerk chicken on her way home to Woodstock, but upon hearing of Lincoln's ill health graciously filled in.) Hargrove and saxophonist Steve Coleman sparred in the spirit of spontaneity seemingly unaffected by the slavery hot conditions that contributed to Abbey Lincoln's cancellation and my day long heat headache. It was a treat to hear Hargrove in this context as I actually haven't heard much of Hargove's straight ahead jazz playing. But his R&B work, I find incredibly endearing, notably Distractions (2006). my second favorite album of 2006 (after St. Elsewhere), Distractions was responsible for the loveliest of love songs, "Family."
Will Friedwald of the New York Sun provides a nice review of the fest here although I disagree with his take on Cary's trio.
Here are some more pics (Click on pics for larger views):
de.licio.us
digg
Furl
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Comments
There are no comments on this entry. Be the first!