The legacy of late trumpeter, composer, and Jazz Gallery co-founder Roy Hargrove is alive and well at the Midtown venue, as saxophonist, bandleader, and longtime member Bruce Williams leads the Roy Hargrove Big Band in two performances every first Thursday of the month. The ensemble, which consists of 13 horns and a four-piece rhythm section, explores original Hargrove compositions, standards, and arrangements familiar to the band since Hargrove started the group.
In 1995, Hargrove co-founded the Jazz Gallery with WBGO correspondent Lezlie Harrison and the late Dale Fitzgerald. Hargrove rose to prominence for his soulful blend of jazz that pushed hard bop in increasingly explorative directions, fronting the big band, and releasing a prolific amount of solo output in various incarnations, like the RH Factor, which highlighted the connection between hip hop and jazz in its approach.
Hargrove’s life was tragically cut short in 2018 when he passed from heart failure, but his work, mission, and presence continue to hold space in NYC through the Jazz Gallery and the Roy Hargrove Legacy, which revived the big band in 2022. Now every first Thursday of the month, jazz aficionados are invited to take a ride with the big band through their vast repertoire, which includes moments of deep swing, soulful balladry, and fierce improvisation from the soloists on October 2. Williams was joined by woodwind players Mark Gross, Mike Lee, Keith Loftis, and Jason Marshall, and trumpeters, Frank Greene, Wayne Tucker, Camerahn Alforque and Duane Eubanks, trombonists Gina Benalcázar-López, James Burton, Willie Applewhite, and Max Seigel, rounded out by the rhythm section which consisted of drummer, Isaiah Bravo, bassist Danton Boller, pianist Tyler Bullock, and guitarist Saul Rubin.
Roy Hargrove Big Band residency performances are only $10 for student members, and most performances are live-streamed. You can learn more about memberships and upcoming shows at the Jazz Gallery on their website and stay up to date with the Roy Hargrove Legacy here.