1990 · Album
Diamond in the Rough
Recorded 1989 · Novus Records · Produced by Roy Hargrove
A Young Trumpeter Finds His Voice
Hargrove strips away pretense here, playing with the directness of someone still discovering what he can do.
Diamond in the Rough catches Roy Hargrove early in his career, when he was still figuring out exactly who he wanted to be as a player and bandleader. This isn't a polished statement or a carefully constructed concept—it's more like watching someone work through ideas in real time, which is exactly what makes it interesting. Hargrove's trumpet is front and center throughout, and you can hear him testing different approaches to melody and phrasing, sometimes swinging hard and sometimes pulling back into something more introspective.
What sets this record apart from typical debut material is how willing Hargrove is to sit in different settings and let the music breathe. Some tracks are stripped down and conversational, where you can hear exactly what he's thinking. Others have more space and air around them, letting the rhythm section establish a pocket before he enters. The overall sound is direct and uncluttered—no overdubs, no studio tricks, just musicians playing together. This straightforward approach actually works in the album's favor because there's nowhere to hide. When something works, it works. When it doesn't quite land, you hear that too.
This isn't Hargrove at his peak, and it's not the first place most people would start if they're new to him. But it matters because it shows you where his sensibilities were forming—his interest in swing, his respect for the straight-ahead tradition, his ear for players who could match his energy. If you already appreciate his later work, coming back to this one reveals how much remained consistent in his approach even as his playing matured and deepened. For committed fans, it's the kind of record that becomes more rewarding the more you listen.
Who's playing
Charles Fambroughdouble bass
Scott Colleydouble bass
Geoffrey Keezerpiano
John Hickspiano
Antonio Hartalto saxophone
Ralph Mooretenor saxophone
Roy Hargrovetrumpet
Ralph Petersondrums
Al Fosterdrums
