“There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you’re hearing your compositions and arrangements played by a wall of sound.” Roy Hargrove
Originally started in the rehearsal space that would later become the Jazz Gallery, the Roy Hargrove Big Band had its inaugural performance at the Greenwich Village Jazz Festival in 1995. Since then, the band has toured domestically and internationally and has played everywhere from the Blue Note Tokyo to the Hollywood Bowl. As with everything Roy, his broad musical range is evident in his big band. You’ll hear everything from his quintet compositions, bebop, lush ballads to funk, hip hop and latin. The arrangements are comprised of Roy’s originals, standards and new music by band members and other contemporaries whom he respected.
In 2022, a few years after his untimely passing, Roy Hargrove Legacy, the company founded by his wife and daughter, re-launched The Roy Hargrove Big Band to continue Roy’s music, spirit and the big band sound that he loved. Consisting of mainly original band members with the addition of a few young talents this powerhouse band features among others: Willie Jones III, Quincy Phillips, Danton Boller, Ameen Saleem, Tyler Bullock, Saul Rubin, Russell Hall, Duane Eubanks, Freddie Hendrix, Camerahn Alforque, Nathan Eklund, Frank Greene, Eddie Allen, Wayne Tucker, Jason Jackson, James Burton, Nate Jones, Robert Edwards, Max Seigel, Bruce Williams, Mark Gross, Julius Tolentino, Keith Loftis, Mike Lee, Jason Marshall.
Bruce Williams, lead alto and big band member from 1997 until Mr. Hargrove’s death in 2018, is Music Director. Mr. Jason Marshall, baritone saxophonist and also long-time member of the big band, serves as Assistant Music Director. Roy’s wife Aida Brandes-Hargrove is the band’s Executive Director.
The big band is going into its third year with the successful monthly residency at The Jazz Gallery, a NYC venue that Roy co-founded. Other recent shows include a three day run at Dizzy’s to celebrate Roy’s birthday and the album release of “The Love Suite: In Mahogany”. A few weeks earlier they played to a sold out crowd at Vassar College, which introduced Roy’s big band sound to a whole new generation.
ABOUT JAZZ AT ONE
As part of Trinity Church Wall Street’s commitment to jazz, a uniquely American art form and uniting voice for our collective story and experience, Trinity presents Jazz at One in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. Jazz at One is a part of Trinity’s renowned Concerts at One series and is curated by our very own Ted Chubb. Through access, learning, career development, and community building, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS cultivates tomorrow’s global citizens so they may build vibrant communities.
