Monday, August 17, 2009

HAROLD LITTLE: DADDY'S GROOVE

Simply put, Harold Little knows jazz. With an education at D.C.'s renowned Duke Ellington School of the Arts and additional study at the University of District of Columbia's Jazz Studies Program, Little honed his craft for the improvisational genre. Having played with jazz icons Buck Hill, Calvin Jones, Webster Young, Eddie Gladden and Butch Warren, as well as "The Godfather of Go-Go", Chuck Brown, among others, the trumpeter has the experience to go with the "chops". He's a familiar site at popular venues around the Nation's Capital including Verizon Center, Takoma Station, Blues Alley, Half Note Lounge, BET, Republic Gardens, Zanzibar, H-R57, and Ft. Dupont Theatre. After a 5-year hiatus to "raise his children and do the 'good husband' thing", the artist is now spreading his wings with the release of his new project entitled Daddy's Groove. The new 5-song EP is a musical expression of the passion that exudes from Harold. Although he's played for countless gifted musicians, this is his solo debut recording. Blending influences from styles like Funk, Go-Go, Soul, R&B, and of course Jazz, Daddy's Groove is certain to put a pep in the step of any listener. Tracks like the title tune, "Daddy's Groove", a snappy and lively jazz track and the festive, shoulder-shaking "Blue Bossa" make this EP one to put in and let play. Harold smoothes things out a little with the stylish and soothing sounds of "Jo-Jo" while "Well You Needn't" is a bold, in-your-face track. It's no wonder that Harold Little has been playing a "mean trumpet" for close to twenty years. Other great musicians accompany him on Daddy's Groove including Frankie Addison (tenor saxophone), Gerry Gillespie (keyboards), Yusef Chisholm (bass), Mark Prince (drums) and Tommy Guns (percussions). Little is thrilled at the result he achieved with the performances on Daddy's Groove. He says, "The project began as a demo effort to shop for gigs around the Washington, D.C. area. It turned out so well that I decided to pursue the EP route to test the market. We've been playing together forever so the studio session was a piece of cake. The vibe was right and the music was tight so we put it down that night and it was a wrap. Such great musicians make it easy for any bandleader."

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