Grande-Terre—Roy Hargrove's Crisol's 1998 Finale Finally Released
why it remained unreleased since 1998 remains a mystery
Habana, the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove's previous release with his hard bop- Afro-Cuban group Crisol (crucible/melting pot) won a 1998 GRAMMY for Best Latin Jazz Performance. Somehow this follow-up recorded April, 1998 was never released, but it's not because there's something wrong with it or it's disappointing in any way, or it doesn't sound good or whatever.
The album was finally released October 18th, 2024 a few days after what would have been Hargrove's 55th birthday (he passed away in 2018 age, 49 from a chronic. As soon as I saw it was being released I asked Verve for a copy but never got around to reviewing it though it played here often. I kept thinking "If they could wait more than 25 years to release it, there's no rush to review it", so there it sat in a close by pile (there are close by, near by, somewhat distant and out of sight piles).
Recorded at La Terreur studio in Guadeloupe the dozen member band Crisol (Roy Hargrove - (trumpet, flugelhorn) Frank Lacy - (trombone) Sherman Irby - (alto sax) Jacques Schwarz-Bart - (tenor sax) Gabriel Hernandez - (piano) Larry Willis - (piano) Ed Cherry - (guitar) Gerald Cannon - (bass) Miguel "Anga" Diaz - (percussion) Jose Luis Quintana - (percussion) Julio Barreto - (drums, vocals) Willie Jones (drums) sticks mainly to horn-blasted fiery Afro-Cuban rhythms punctuated with percussive grooves. Body jazz mostly that dares you to not move to the rhythms or respond to the molton brass blasts.
There'a a lot of head case jazz noodling of late, this is not that! It's celebratory party music, sometimes manic paced but on other tracks, there are suave, simmering sophisticated grooves. The set begins with "Rhumba Roy" a song filled with well-choreographed horn explosions and percussive accents followed by "A Song For Audrey", spotlighting Frank Lacy's trombone, Gabriel Hernández or Larry Willis' piano (which one plays isn't credited and two pianists are in the group) and Gerald Cannon's deep groove bass lines (he wrote the tune). If you stream that track for a taste you're likely going to want this record.
The second disc brings the boil down to a low simmer beginning with "Another Time" a gorgeous ballad written by the group's drummer Willie Jones. "Lullaby From Atlantis" spotlights tenor saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart's Ellintonian arranging chops. The side takes the group into cool, suave territory.
It's salsa party time on side four beginning with Cedar Walton's "Afreaka". Hargrove does some "horsing around" on trumpet and I'm done with the big band play by play. Crank it up and enjoy. Larry Willis' "Ethiopia" totally changes to mood to sunset reverie.
The sound is outstanding: dynamic, bass energized, percussively "crisp" in a good way, the horns are very well recorded and it invites turning up to whatever SPLs suit you. There's a party going on. It's shame Hargrove isn't here to enjoy it. You definitely will! This group was on fire. Joe Nino-Hernes' disc mastering is noteworthy. So I noted it.
