Bern (Rsd)

For the first time ever, Roy Hargrove’s legendary 2000 performance at the Bern Jazz Festival is officially released—restored from the original tapes and remastered for audiophile fidelity. This is Hargrove at the height of his powers: bold, lyrical, endlessly inventive. Fronting a stellar quintet of Larry Willis, Sherman Irby, Gerald Cannon, and Willie Jones, he bridges bebop tradition with 21st-century soul, moving effortlessly between hard-swinging post-bop, Latin-inflected grooves, and breathtaking ballads. Long regarded as a highlight by those lucky enough to be in the room, this release captures that lightning for the world. Roy Hargrove’s contributions to jazz were vast, bridging classic form and modern expression like few of his generation. This long-lost performance is both a celebration and a rediscovery—an essential document of one of jazz’s true voices, now heard in full brilliance for the first time. Transferred from the original tapes and restored and mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. The limited-edition 180g 1-LP edition includes an extensive booklet with rare photographs, newly commissioned liner notes, and testimonials from band members and those influenced by his work. Tracklist SIDE A A1. Stranded A2. Depth SIDE B B1. Never Let Me Go B2. Caryisms B3. Circus