North Sea Jazz and Roy Hargrove (Waco, Texas) have a special relationship. Hargrove, who was discovered by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, was just seventeen when he, as a young talent, made his debut here at the festival. From that moment on he has presented his latest music at almost every edition. Varying from straight ahead jazz, Latin music and jazz with strings to a show with his neo-soul/funk/jazz collective The RH Factor. The trumpeter, a typical child of our time, could never be pinned down to one musical style. This year he'll take the stage with his new quintet that, as usual in Hargrove's case, consists of young, talented musicians. There is, for instance, the young, dexterous pianist Gerald Clayton - son of the famous arranger John Clayton. But also drummer Chris Brown is one of those guys you have to watch. Hargrove felt and saw immediately: these guys are great sparring-partners for my music. His current repertoire is well reflected on the album Nothing Serious: ballads, fast neo-bop and Latin-tinged compositions.
