Jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove plays Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts March 20 | Press Releases

Jazz Trumpeter Roy Hargrove plays Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts with his quintet on Friday, March 20 at 8:00 p.m.

Hargrove has firmly established himself among the premier players in jazz and beyond. Never satisfied to rest on his formidable laurels as the fine jazz trumpeter he is, he continually stretches into more challenging and colorful ways to flex his musical chops. In addition to his quintet and the "straight ahead" jazz they play, Hargrove exercises his jazz/funk muscles with his group, RH Factor, yet switches easily from one musical genre to another.

The Roy Hargrove Quintet Verve CD, "Nothing Serious" (2006) moves from Hargrove's breathtaking and sensual Flugelhorn ballad "Trust" and the enveloping warmth of "The Gift" to a fierce waltz time swinger, "Salima's Dance." The band perfected most of the CD's material on the road before the recording. According to Hargrove, "It's important with a straight ahead group for everyone to contribute." He continues, "Opening things up compositionally keeps the program well-rounded. And even when they're playing my tunes, everybody's sound shapes the song."

The array of talents who have invited Hargrove to grace the stage and/or their recordings - range from jazz legends Sonny Rollins and Jackie McLean to song stylists Natalie Cole, Diana Krall and Abbey Lincoln. From pop veterans Diana Ross, Steve Tyrell and Kenny Rankin to younger stars John Mayer and Rhian Bension to the crème de la crème of jazz divas, Carmen McRae and the late, great Shirley Horn.

Tickets are $40, $35 and are available online at fairfield.edu/quick or by calling the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396. Sign up at fairfield.edu/quick to receive e-mails for special offers and discounts for Quick Center shows.