Roy Hargrove Big Band @ Yoshi’s

Roy Hargrove

I closed out 2008 by seeing the Roy Hargrove Big Band at Yoshi’s Oakland. Roy put on a good show and played to a packed house for the late show on Tuesday night. His sound was solid and his band was incredible. Their set consisted of original compositions and some jazz standards including a fantastic arrangement of “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” Singer Roberta Gambarini joined the band for a couple of tunes. She and Roy even traded licks on one tune. Roy also sang a couple of verses on “September in the Rain” before he did a call and response scat with the band. I think the folks who went to see the Roy Hargrove Big Band on New Year’s Eve for $100 definitely got their monies worth.

Photo of Roy Hargrove & RH Factor at the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival by James Knox.

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