Parker's Mood

Performer: Roy Hargrove
Engineer: Jim Anderson
Producer: Don Sickler; Richard Seidel
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Full performer name: The Roy Hargrove/Christian McBride/Stephen Scott Trio. Personnel: Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugelhorn); Stephen Scott (piano); Christian McBride (bass). Recorded at Effanel Music Studio, New York, New York from April 12-14, 1995. Includes liner notes by Bret Primack and Jim Anderson. Tributee: Charlie Parker. Personnel: Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugelhorn); Stephen Scott (piano). Liner Note Authors: Bret Primack; Jim Anderson . Recording information: Effanel Music Studio, New York, NY (04/12/1995-04/14/1995). Photographers: Herman Leonard; Jimmy Katz. On this unusual album, Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugelhorn), Christian McBride (bass) and Stephen Scott (piano) pay homage to the father of bebop with a generous set of (mostly) Charlie Parker compositions performed in trio, duet and solo arrangements. These three musicians, all of whom are part of the back-to-bop youth movement and all of whom have made names for themselves as session players and fledgling bandleaders, approach the tunes with a combination of reverence and iconoclastic innovation -- how often do you think you'll hear "Red Cross" as a bass solo or "Chasin' the Bird" as a trumpet/bass duet? This approach has its limitations, of course; as revealing as Hargrove's solo take on "Dewey Square" is, sometimes the weight of rhythmic responsibility weighs too heavily on McBride's shoulders during the trio numbers, and the groove suffers. Unless you're listening on headphones or in a quiet room with very good speakers, the rhythmic thread of the bassline can easily get lost in the mix, leaving Scott's syncopated comping sounding disjointed. But it doesn't happen very often, and the overall effect of this album is one of new light being shed on an aging but beautiful art collection. Those who know these tunes already will enjoy the album most. Those who don't will find they have much to learn, and should be excited at the prospect. ~ Rick Anderson In the spirit of continuity and tradition, producers Richard Seidel and Don Sickler gathered the pick of the litter for a convocation over the still-warm remains of Charlie Parker, the most vital, visionary figure in 20th Century music. What makes PARKER'S MOOD so special, and so refreshingly different from your typical Bird blowing session, is the sense of intimacy and interchange, as trumpeter, bassist and pianist take on these complex rhythms and melodies, gathered in a circle, live to two-track, without the aid of a drummer. As a result, PARKER'S MOOD is full of surprises. Not the least of which is the recorded sound, which is resoundingly deep and full of detail, with a real sense of air and space. Much of the credit must go to McBride, whose enormous beat ("Marmaduke"), witty arco work ("Steeplechase") and thundering blues drive ("Red Cross"), and authentic downhome funk ("Star Eyes") are as close to an ideal acoustic bass sound as this generation of players has yet produced. The taciturn, reticent qualities which distinguish Stephen Scott's piano playing, make him and ideal partner in these proceedings. On "Laura" his serene, bell-like chords frame Hargrove's taut delivery of the melody in dreamy shades of turquoise and green, and his solo makes thoughtful use of space and dynamic contrasts to bring home the point--sweet and romantic without blubbering all over the chords. And check out his solo on "Bongo Bop"--the brother can swing. And Hargrove, always known for his chops, seems to find a new gravity in Bird's intricate melodies, from the muted joy of "Dexterity" through the dancing whimsy of "Chasin' The Bird."

Down Beat (11/95, p.40) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...stresses grace; the winsome phrasing...generates a refined atmosphere that borders on chamber music....the trio casts the music's tensile passages in an aura of luxuriousness. Crazed expeditiousness is eventually smoothed out, like a fist working a worry stone to eleviate pressure..."

Not content to be a highly respected post-bop trumpeter and flugelhorn player, displaying technical mastery and graceful expressiveness, Roy Hargrove continually explores musical possibilities. He has led jazz quartets, big bands, an Afro-Cuban ensemble called Crisol, and the experimental R&B band RH Factor. The Texas-born Hargrove studied briefly in the late 1980s at both the Berklee College of Music and the New School, and by 1990, at the age of 21, he'd already released his first solo album on Novus/RCA. He released several more records on RCA before moving to Verve, and continues to mesmerize audiences with his inventive playing and sonic experimentations.

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