Hard Groove

{{Short description|2003 studio album by Roy Hargrove & The RH Factor}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Hard Groove | type = studio | artist = Roy Hargrove | cover = Hard Groove.album.jpg | alt = | released = May 20, 2003 | recorded = January–September, 2002 | venue = | studio = Electric Lady Studios, NYC | genre = *Jazz *funk *hip-hop | length = {{Duration|m=72|s=17}} | label = Verve<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Norment |first1=Lynn |title=Sounding Off |journal=Ebony |date=June 2003 |volume=58 |issue=8 |page=32}}</ref> {{small|065 192-2}} | producer = Roy Hargrove | prev_title = Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall | prev_year = 2002 | next_title = Strength | next_year = 2004 }} '''''Hard Groove''''' is a studio album by American trumpeter Roy Hargrove, released on May 20, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collar |first=Matt |title=Roy Hargrove Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roy-hargrove-mn0000345426/biography |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=AllMusic |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hendrickson |first1=Tad |date=May 12, 2003 |title=Birth of the Groove |journal=CMJ New Music Report |language=en-US |volume=75 |issue=813 |page=11}}</ref> It is credited to his group, The RH Factor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |date=November 7, 2018 |title=Send It On: Roy Hargrove's Immaculate Blend of Jazz, Hip-Hop, and R&B |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/send-it-on-roy-hargroves-immaculate-blend-of-jazz-hip-hop-and-randb/ |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>

The album peaked at No. 185 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roy Hargrove |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/roy-hargrove/ |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> "I'll Stay" was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals" category.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roy Hargrove {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/roy-hargrove/2647 |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=Grammy Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Production== Produced by Hargrove, the album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Johnson |first1=Martin |date=May 31, 2003 |title=Hard Groove |magazine=Billboard |page=60 |volume=115 |issue=22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Infantry |first1=Ashante |date=May 27, 2003 |title=Harmonizing to Hargrove |work=Toronto Star |page=D5 |language=en-US}}</ref> Hargrove used a 10-piece band on the album.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ouellette |first1=Dan |date=April 2003 |title=The question is ... What do you expect from Roy Hargrove's new funk project? |journal=DownBeat |language=en-US |volume=70 |issue=4 |page=20}}</ref> He considered it to be a tribute to his childhood love of hip hop; he also wanted to impart a gospel or spiritual element to the music.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guzman |first1=Rafer |date=May 18, 2003 |title=Riffer Madness? |work=Newsday |page=D22 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ollison |first1=Rashod D. |date=May 15, 2003 |title=Hargrove is jamming to a whole new groove |work=The Baltimore Sun |page=24T |language=en-US}}</ref> Bassists Reggie Washington and Pino Palladino were among the musicians on the album.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Waggoner |first1=Eric |date=October 2003 |title=Hard groove |journal=Jazziz |language=en-US |volume=20 |issue=10 |pages=74–75}}</ref>

D'Angelo appears on the cover of Funkadelic's "I'll Stay".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Philip |date=May 22, 2003 |title=Roy Hargrove presents the RH Factor |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/roy-hargrove-presents-the-rh-factor-6347905 |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=Miami New Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Renée Neufville sang on "Juicy",<ref name=AJ/> while Q-Tip rapped on "Poetry", which whom Meshell Ndegeocello and Erykah Badu also appeared on.<ref name=WP/><ref name=TG/> Anthony Hamilton sang on "Kwah/Home".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=John L. |author-link=John L. Walters |date=July 18, 2003 |title=On the edge |work=The Guardian |department=Guardian Friday Pages |page=20}}</ref>

The album cover was designed by Rudy Gutierrez, who was inspired by the art of Santana's ''Abraxas''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rivers |first1=Jeff |date=May 22, 2003 |title=CD Cover Artist Rudy Gutierrez 'Paints' the Music |work=Hartford Courant |department=Calendar |page=32}}</ref>

== Critical reception == {{music ratings | rev1 = ''All About Jazz'' | rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slawecki |first=Chris M. |date=July 25, 2003 |title=Roy Hargrove Presents the RH Factor: Hard Groove |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/hard-groove-roy-hargrove-verve-music-group-review-by-chris-m-slawecki |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=All About Jazz}}</ref> | rev2 = AllMusic | rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="AM">{{Cite web |last=Edelstein |first=Paula |date= |title=Hard Groove - The RH Factor {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-groove-mw0000028129 |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' | rev3score = B<ref name="AJ">{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Sonia |title=Contemporary Jazz |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=May 27, 2003 |page=D5}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Gazette'' | rev4score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="TG">{{cite news |last1=Dunlevy |first1=T'Cha |title=Newly released compact discs |work=The Gazette |date=June 19, 2003 |page=D5}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=John L. |author-link=John L. Walters |date=April 8, 2004 |title=Roy Hargrove & the RH Factor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/08/jazz |access-date=January 6, 2026 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | rev6 = ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' | rev6score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="PG">{{cite book |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=591 |edition=8th}}</ref> }} ''The Boston Globe'' deemed ''Hard Groove'' a "genre-busting album [that] is a funky showcase of Hargrove's musical alacrity."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Renee |date=May 20, 2003 |title=Hargrove Proves He Grooves On More Than Just Jazz |work=The Boston Globe |page=C1}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' labeled it "a late-night party album: it begins upbeat then settles into a stoned haze."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ratliff |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Ratliff |date=May 20, 2003 |title=CRITIC'S CHOICE/NEW CD'S; Smooth? How About Some Chunky? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/20/arts/critic-s-choice-new-cd-s-smooth-how-about-some-chunky.html |access-date=January 6, 2026 |work=The New York Times |page=}}</ref> The ''Birmingham Post'' concluded that "there's a 1970's retro feel which conjures up Donald Byrd's hits, as well as some funk worthy of George Clinton, but it's also very up-to-date, especially in the sophistication of the studio sound."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacon |first1=Peter |date=June 21, 2003 |title=Jazz CDs |work=Birmingham Post |department=Features |page=52}}</ref>

''The Washington Post'' wrote: "Loose-limbed and groove-driven, it occasionally sounds overplayed and undercomposed as the musicians struggle to find the right balance of rhythmic momentum and jazz improvisation."<ref name="WP">{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Britt |date=May 27, 2003 |title=Hargrove's 'RH Factor': Mixing In Some New Blood |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2003/05/28/hargroves-rh-factor-mixing-in-some-new-blood/3f6c6c11-ed34-4cb7-9f6c-af365919ecc5/ |access-date=January 6, 2026 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=}}</ref> The ''New York Amsterdam News'' stated that Hargrove "plays on the edge of his imagination using jazz improvisations as the key to display another exciting element of his creativity."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Ron |date=May 29, 2003 |title=Jazz CDs for summer pleasure |work=New York Amsterdam News |page=19}}</ref>

AllMusic called the album "an exploration of his multidimensional musical attributes and his belated recognition of years of 'open-eared moonlighting'."<ref name="AM"/> ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' determined that "Pastor 'T{{Single+double}} "might be one of Hargrove's best performances on record."<ref name=PG/>

== Track listing == All tracks are written by Roy Hargrove except where noted. {{Track listing | total_length = 72:17 | all_writing = | title1 = Hardgroove | length1 = 5:31 | writer1 = Bernard Wright | title2 = Common Free Style | length2 = 5:57 | writer2 = {{hlist|Roy Hargrove|James Poyser|Common}} | title3 = I'll Stay | length3 = 7:50 | writer3 = {{hlist|George Clinton|Eddie Hazel}} | title4 = Interlude | length4 = 0:59 | writer4 = {{hlist|Hargrove|Stephen Jones|Esantis Washington}} | title5 = Pastor 'T{{'-}} | length5 = 5:44 | writer5 = Keith Anderson | title6 = Poetry | length6 = 5:48 | writer6 = {{hlist|Hargrove|Erykah Badu|Q-Tip}} | title7 = The Joint | length7 = 5:41 | title8 = Forget Regret | length8 = 3:52 | writer8 = Jacques Schwarz-Bart | title9 = Out of Town | length9 = 3:58 | title10 = Liquid Streets | length10 = 4:59 | title11 = Kwah/Home | length11 = 6:00 | title12 = How I Know | length12 = 4:56 | writer12 = {{hlist|Hargrove|Pino Palladino|Shelby Johnson|Chalmers Alford}} | title13 = Juicy | length13 = 6:34 | writer13 = {{hlist|Hargrove|Johnny Mandel|Renée Neufville}} | title14 = The Stroke | length14 = 4:28 }}

== Personnel == '''Musicians'''

* Roy Hargrove – trumpet (1–7, 10, 11, 14), flugelhorn (6, 8, 11, 13), piano (6), keyboards (6, 9), bass (9), percussion (7, 13), background vocals (2, 3), arranging, production * Anthony Hamilton (11), Common (2), Erykah Badu (6), Q-Tip (6), Renée Neufville (13), Shelby Johnson (12), Stephanie McKay (8) – vocals (guest artists) * D'Angelo – vocals (guest artist; 3), background vocals (3), Wurlitzer piano (3) * Karl Denson – flute (guest artist; 13) * Jacques Schwarz-Bart – flute (8), soprano saxophone (11), tenor saxophone (1–3, 6, 8–11, 13, 14), acoustic guitar (8, 10) * Steve Coleman – alto saxophone (guest artist; 9) * Keith Anderson – alto saxophone (1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 13), tenor saxophone (5) * Keith Loftis – tenor saxophone (9) * Maurice Brown – trumpet (9), background vocals (2) * Chalmers "Spanky" Alford (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12), Cornell Dupree (1, 10) – guitar * Bernard Wright – piano (12, 13), keyboards (1, 5, 7, 10, 14), Hammond B3 organ (3), ARP synthesizer (12), background vocals (3) * Bobby Sparks – keyboards, Hammond B3 organ (8, 12), Rhodes piano (5, 7), ARP synthesizer (7), clavinet (1) * James Poyser – piano (10), keyboards (2, 10, 13), Rhodes piano (2, 10, 13), background vocals (2) * Marc Cary – Wurlitzer piano (6, 11) * Tony Suggs – Hammond B3 organ (14) * Pino Palladino (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12), John Arthur Lee (14) – bass * Reggie Washington – acoustic bass (5, 9, 10, 11), electric bass (1, 4, 13) * Meshell Ndegeocello – bass (guest artist; 6, 11) * Daniel Moreno (1, 7, 13, 14), Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng (14) – percussion * Gene Lake (6, 11), Willie Jones III (4, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14) – drums * Jason Thomas – drums (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12), background vocals (3) * G. Craig "Butter" Glanville – drums, drum machine (7), background vocals (2) * Dontae Winslow – MPC drum machine (2, 14), finger snaps (10), background vocals (2)

'''Technical'''

* Larry Clothier – executive producer * Jason Olaine – co-production * Russell "The Dragon" Elevado – co-production, engineering, mixing * Steve Mandel, Steef Van De Gevel – engineering (additional) * Chris Gehringer – mastering * John Newcott, Kelly Pratt – release coordinator * Hollis King – art direction, design * Sachico Asano – design * Hans Neleman – photography * Rudy Guiterrez – illustrations (front cover)

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://youllhearit.com/episodes/hardgroove {{Double+single}}Hard Groove' – The RH Factor"] on ''You'll Hear It'', Open Studio {{Roy Hargrove}}

Category:Roy Hargrove albums Category:2003 albums Category:Verve Records albums