We've become accustomed to our heroes dying - indeed most of mine already have. Fortunately, although the fallen are gone, there are ever new ones to, if not take their place, ensure that they are not forgotten whilst, simultaneously, making their own mark on the music.
Such a player was Roy Hargrove whose name can be rightly added to the trumpet lineage of Louis, Eldridge, Dizzy, Brownie, Miles and beyond. I only saw him once but that was enough to tell me that the future was in good hands. How sad to have to use the word 'was'.
June 28 at the Union Chapel, Islington. The year 2011. A 42-year-old trumpet player setting the venue on fire. Hard bop for today. A multiple DownBeat poll winner and the best trumpet player I'd heard since the above legends passed on, in a timeless world, maybe before.
Now Roy Hargrove is dead - he left us yesterday (November 2) after a heart attack.
He was 49.
Sadly missed - his music will live on.
Lance.
Listen to his most famous composition - Strasbourg Saint Denis.
6 comments :
Gone too early I’ve got some great recordings of him with Herbie Hancock, fantastic player so sad.
What? Goddamn it. He would've been on my bucket list!
Oh no!
I'm sure he was due to play in Camden this year. Francis was planning a trip down.
In my memory forever playing "I Remember Clifford" on flugelhorn RIP.
Too soon.
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