Roy Hargrove’s Soulful Seattle Legacy

This past week, I attended a special KNKX Release Benefit for the studio sessions recorded by Roy Hargrove. If you haven’t heard of Roy Hargrove already, he was one of the most influential jazz composers who passed in 2018. Active for more than 30 years, Hargrove experimented with different genres and artists to develop unique sounds with the trumpet. Growing up listening to my brother play Hargrove’s music, Hargrove’s particular style stood out, a depth that couldn’t be captured on sheet music or recorded sessions. The highly anticipated event did not disappoint, with the ambience of the venue, The Triple Door, setting the perfect tone for jazz listening. Right across the street from Benaroya Hall, the warm, dim lighting and sparkly stage created the perfect scene to immerse listeners in the performance, and this event was no exception.

Roy Hargrove was known among his bandmates to prioritize playing by ear and feeling, sometimes teaching them minutes before a performance. Quoted from his ‘EarFood’ album, Hargrove describes the sound as “a result of our constant touring, and getting to know one another, on and off the bandstand.” Getting to know these bits before each session recording resonated, and even more impressive considering how clean and connected the dynamic is felt.

Host Abe Beeson described “Top of My Head” as being more succinctly described as ‘Stuck in My Head’, which perfectly encapsulates the listening experience of this release event. This event was particularly memorable because of Hargrove’s connection to KNKX and Seattle. These studio sessions debuted some of his original material, an instant classic that became popular in jazz scenes around the country despite being officially unreleased (prior to the day of the release event). The EP list consists of “Top of My Head”, “The Seattle Vibe”, “Angels”, and “Soulful”. It was heartfelt to hear from the three members of his working quintet reminisce on the memories of recording these sessions and celebrate his impact to this day. An additional conversation was featured between Beeson and Hargrove’s widow, Aida Brandes-Hargrove, a musician who is the director of Roy Hargrove Big Band, speaking on how she is continuing Hargrove’s legacy. The posthumous release of the two studio sessions is just one of the many ways she is introducing his music to the younger generations.

Lastly, there was a live performance by the D’Vonne Lewis Trio that played classics like “I’m Not So Sure”, showcasing the chemistry between the bandmates and fun solos. The trio finished off the event playing the legendary “Strasbourg/ St. Denis”. The audio-visual performance of the recording sessions paired with the interviews and additional context from Hargrove’s peers made me appreciate the magic of live music even more as a listener. Whether or not Hargrove’s name is familiar, the recently released Top of My Head EP can be appreciated by old and new listeners!