ROY HARGROVE
Moment To Moment (Verve)
Rating: 6 out of 7
By Ken Micallef

   Now firmly entrenched in the jazz world 10 years after his recording debut as a "Young Lion," trumpeter Roy Hargove can afford to take it smooth and mellow, which is what he does on his latest installment. 
   After such challenging efforts as the Havana-recorded Habana, and the unusual Charlie Parker tribute Parker's Mood, one might expect Hargrove to record with an all-star band (like 1993's Tenors Of Our Time), or stretch out on some new jack funk-bop. But Hargrove is a purist. Moment To Moment is in the tradition of Chet Baker and Strings, and in the mood of Diane Krall's When I Look In Your Eyes. Working with a solid, if not star-studded band, and a glowing string section (that occasionally overstays its welcome), Hargrove lends his gleaming horn to ballads--plain, pristine and simple. 
   Any jazz musician will tell you that the hardest thing to play is not blazing, burning bebop, but ballads. Having to fill all that slow space with weight, ideas, and beauty makes a musician work hard, both in mind and body. Hargrove slips into the mode like a a conductor donning silk gloves. His choice of songs is perfect, including Pat Metheny's "Always And Forever." 
   What is interesting is that instead of covering standards every jazz player knows, Hargrove here chooses more romantic vehicles, many from the Sinatra songbook. "How Insensitive," "You Go To My Head," "I'm A Fool To Want You" (which is particularly riveting) and "I Fall In Love Too Easily" were all recorded by the Chairman and in his most fertile period. But Hargrove is his own man these days, and when one hears Hargrove on such chestnuts as "The Very Thought Of You," he owns the moment, and every one that follows. 

All recordings courtesy of Verve Music Group. “Moment To Moment” written by H. Mancini, J. Mercer; courtesy of Universal-Northern Music Company/Northridge Music Company, administered by Universal-MCA Music Publishing, a division of Universal Studios, Inc./Johnny Mercer Foundation (ASCAP). “I Fall In Love Too Easily” written by S. Cahn, J. Styne; courtesy of EMI Feist Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP). “How Insenstive” written by A. C. Jobim, V. Demoraes, N. Gimbel; courtesy of Universal-Duchess Music Corp./New Thunder Music Co. (BMI).