What makes Earfood by The Roy Hargrove Quintet notable?

The album received critical acclaim for its fresh take on jazz standards and original compositions, earning a spot on several year-end best lists. It showcased Hargrove's ability to blend traditional jazz elements with contemporary influences, solidifying his standing as a significant figure in modern jazz. By 2008, Roy Hargrove was well-established in the jazz scene, having released several acclaimed albums since his debut in the early '90s. 'Earfood' followed his Grammy-winning album 'Moment to Moment' and marked a return to the quintet format, emphasizing both collaborative and solo performances within the genre.

Earfood works well if you're into steady flow with intricate melodies, soulful improvisation for focused listening and gradual peaks rewarding attentive ears.

How many songs are on Earfood?

Earfood has 13 tracks, running approximately 67 minutes.

Earfood

The Roy Hargrove Quintet · 2008

67 min · 13 tracks

A vibrant fusion of intricate jazz compositions and soulful improvisation, showcasing the quintet's dynamic interplay and individual artistry.

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Top tracks — play these first

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I'm Not So Sure — This track opens the album with a captivating mix of intricate melodies and rhythmic complexity, setting an energetic tone for the rest of the record.
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Joy Is Sorrow Unmasked — Here, Hargrove's trumpet work shines through poignant phrasing, balancing moments of melancholy with uplifting bursts of energy that embody the album's thematic depth.
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Speak Low — This rendition features lush harmonies and a hauntingly beautiful solo that showcases both the ensemble's tightness and Hargrove's expressive playing style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

76 /100

Alpine

Higher than 83% of albums we've rated

The album blends intricate compositions with strong improvisation, showcasing the quintet's artistry within a cohesive framework.

What we noticed

Each track typically includes a call-and-response dynamic between the trumpet and other instruments, emphasizing the quintet's interplay.
The tempo varies significantly across the tracks, with some pieces maintaining a brisk pace while others slow down to allow for more reflective solos.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady flow with intricate melodies
soulful improvisation for focused listening
gradual peaks rewarding attentive ears
for late afternoon unwind

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer standalone hit tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: By 2008, Roy Hargrove was well-established in the jazz scene, having released several acclaimed albums since his debut in the early '90s. 'Earfood' followed his Grammy-winning album 'Moment to Moment' and marked a return to the quintet format, emphasizing both collaborative and solo performances within the genre.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 I'm Not So Sure 5:51
2 Brown 4:32
3 Strasbourg / St. Denis 4:40
4 Starmaker 7:56
5 Joy Is Sorrow Unmasked 4:48
6 The Stinger 4:59
7 Rouge 2:48
8 Mr. Clean 5:53
9 Style 6:36
10 Divine 5:12
11 To Wisdom the Prize 5:45
12 Speak Low 5:19
13 Bring It on Home to Me 3:00

What to play next

Full The Roy Hargrove Quintet discography Artists like The Roy Hargrove Quintet

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata