Riverside Arts Centre Sunbury

Review of Celebrating Roy Hargrove

I have always loved listening to Roy Hargrove's version of Ruby My Dear, so this gig was an opportunity to dig deeper into the great trumpeter's musical output. The guest musicians Paul Jordanous {trumpet) and Simon Allen (saxophones) made a wonderful sound together and excelled in their solo spots. They were joined by a terrific house band, led by Terence Collie on piano. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, not least being able to relax with a beer in the candlelit theatre at Riverside Arts.

Review of Celebrating Roy Hargrove

Excellent session in a warm and friendly atmosphere, free car park close to venue and a full bar

Review of Celebrating Roy Hargrove

Absolutely c***king gig celebrating the brilliant, but ultimately tragic, career of trumpet star Roy Hargrove. Great combination of some of his best compositions, particulaly Soppin' The Biscuit, I'm Not So Sure and Strasbourg/St.Denis, together with some of his inspired covers of standards, such as Speak Low and My Ship, both by Kurt Weill. But, for me, the second set was taken to even greater heights by the band's recreation of the slowed down segue of So What and Impressions (Miles and Coltrane respectively) performed by Hargrove accompanying Herbie Hanc**k and Michael Brecker on the Live At Massey Hall album. This was in no small measure to the superb lineup Terry C. had assembled for the evening: the brilliant frontline of Simon Allen and Paul Jordanous backed up by the equally excellent rhythm section of Paul Michael and Joel Prime (drums) making his debut at Sunbury. No wonder we hear that there is growing interest in "modern" jazz in many parts of the UK. This can't have done it any harm.