It’s been more than 25 years since Roy Hargrove’s Crisol stunned the world with Habana, an album that earned them a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Performance and marked Hargrove’s place as one of the most influential trumpeters of his generation. In the spring of 1998, fresh off that Grammy win, Hargrove and his powerhouse ensemble, Crisol, went back into the studio in Guadalupe to record what was meant to be their follow-up album. That record, Grande-Terre, has remained hidden - until now.

Released just two days after what would have been Hargrove’s 55th birthday, Grande-Terre finally allows us to hear what would have been the next chapter in Hargrove’s visionary fusion of jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and more.

The album features an all-star lineup of Hargrove’s long-time collaborators, including trombonist Frank Lacy, pianist Larry Willis, and drummer Willie Jones III. Together, this “Crisol” (meaning melting pot) of Cuban, American, and Guadeloupian musicians formed the bedrock of Hargrove’s unique approach to Latin jazz. Blending jazz with Afro-Cuban influences, bop, soul, and funk, Grande-Terre captures the essence of Hargrove’s genre-bending brilliance. The New York Times called him “the most impactful trumpeter of his generation,” and Grande-Terre shows us exactly why. His writing and playing are both dangerous and delicate, conjuring the same energy that influenced an entire generation of jazz, hip-hop, and neo-soul artists. Artists like Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Questlove all cite Hargrove as a key influence, and the reason why is all over this album.

Roy Hargrove’s untimely passing in 2018 left a void in the jazz world, but with the release of Grande-Terre, we get a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. The album doesn’t feel like a time capsule though, it feels like a revelation of the limitless possibilities Hargrove and band were exploring before time was tragically cut short. For fans of his work, and for anyone who has felt the ripple effects of his groundbreaking artistry, Grande-Terre is a gift. It’s a long-forgotten masterpiece finally brought into the light, and a reminder of Hargrove’s genius.