2000 · Album
Moment To Moment
Recorded October 4–10, 1999 · Verve Records · Produced by Not publicly verified—omitted to avoid error
Roy Hargrove Steps Into the Strings
Hargrove's only venture into orchestral arrangements remains a curious, ambitious detour from his usual hard-bop sound.
In late 1999, Roy Hargrove walked into the studio with something he'd never tried before: a full string orchestra. Moment to Moment stands alone in his catalog as his sole recording built around orchestral arrangements, which makes it worth hearing even if it doesn't represent his core identity as a player. Hargrove was already known for his technical fluency and his ability to move between bebop, hard bop, and funk settings with equal ease. Adding strings was a calculated risk—the kind of move that can either deepen an artist's palette or pull them away from what they do best.
The recording session happened in October 1999, and what emerges is polished, occasionally lovely, but also somewhat formal in a way Hargrove's best work never is. The strings provide lush backdrops for his trumpet, which can feel either like an enhancement or, depending on the track, like a constraint. For a player whose strength lies in his conversational ability—trading lines with other soloists, responding to rhythm section pushes—being wrapped in orchestral cushioning sometimes dulls the edge that makes him compelling. That said, this album shows Hargrove's range. If you're already deep into his discography and curious about his experiments, Moment to Moment (2000) is worth investigating. But if you're new to Hargrove, start with his small-group recordings, where his trumpet speaks more directly and his band pushes back.
This isn't a failed project or an embarrassment. It's a solid side step by a musician confident enough to test unfamiliar ground. Just know what you're getting: orchestral jazz from the turn of the millennium, crafted and careful, but lacking the snap and spontaneity that define Hargrove at his sharpest.
Who's playing
Gerald Cannonbass
Tom Derthickbass
Stan Poplinbass
Larry Willispiano
Sherman Irbyalto saxophone
Willie Jones IIIdrums
Karen Andriecello
Eleanor Angelviola
Cynthia Baerviolin
Jenny Bifanoviolin
Ben Blechmanviolin
Pat Burnhamviolin
Sally Dalkeviolin
Aria DiSalviocello
Roy Hargrovebrass
Kenneth Harrisonviola
Sarah Hartviola
Carol Kutschviolin
Daniel Levitovcello
St. Basscello
Alice Talbotviolin
