(Originally broadcast April 27, 1996)
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Drummer Roy Haynes was born March 13, 1925. He grew up listening to his father playing organ in the family's church in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Mass. Exposure to jazz evidently came early, as Haynes has no musical memories without it. He eventually came to admire drummers like Jo Jones, Sid Catlett and Chick Webb and used the recordings of these legends as his primary means of instruction.
By age 17, Haynes was sitting in with a number of groups in Boston's jazz clubs. He found steady work with several well-known musicians on the scene, including pianist Sabby Lewis, trumpeter Frankie Newton and saxophonist Pete Brown. In 1945, bandleader Luis Russell invited Haynes to New York to work with him at the Savoy Ballroom. This was Haynes' introduction to the 52nd street jazz scene and he quickly became a fixture there.
As World War II had recruited many musicians away from their big bands, smaller groups had begun to dominate the scene. A versatile and creative player, Haynes fit in well with the small ensembles that were experimenting and defining the new style that would come to be called bebop. In the late '40s, Haynes backed Miles Davis, Bud Powell and Charlie Parker. Charlie Byrd called Haynes his favorite drummer.
Haynes found a home as Sarah Vaughn's drummer for five years in the 1950s. Following a world tour with Vaughn, Haynes joined Thelonious Monk for several years in 1959. In the early 1960s, Haynes spent time backing Stan Getz and a few years later, joined up with John Coltrane's Quartet, sitting in when the regular Coltrane drummer, Elvin Jones, wasn't available. Haynes went on to collaborate with some of today's most influential jazz artists including Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and Gary Burton, with whom Haynes helped pioneer the jazz-fusion sound.
In addition to backing the jazz world's most historically significant musicians, Haynes has also led his own groups throughout the years. His fist recording date as a leader was in 1958 for an album (recently reissued on CD) called We Three, with Phineas Newborn on piano and Paul Chambers on bass. In addition to his Hip Ensemble, Haynes has led trios and quartets of various make-ups over the years, which have included artists such as Roland Kirk, Donald Harrison, George Adams and Hannibal Marvin Peterson.
One of the most important and influential of the modern jazz drummers, Haynes has been named an NEA Jazz Master and has been inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame. The Jazz Journalist Association awarded Haynes its Lifetime Achievement Award and he's also received French Chevalier des l'Ordres Artes et des Lettres.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
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Set List for Roy Haynes on Piano Jazz:So What (Davis)
Lady Bird (Dameron)
Shades of Senegal (Haynes)
It Might As Well Be Spring (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
Bemsha Swing (Monk)
Windows (Corea)
Cantaloupe Island (Hancock)
Dolphin Dance (Hancock)
Kaleidoscope (McPartland)
By age 17, Haynes was sitting in with a number of groups in Boston's jazz clubs. He found steady work with several well-known musicians on the scene, including pianist Sabby Lewis, trumpeter Frankie Newton and saxophonist Pete Brown. In 1945, bandleader Luis Russell invited Haynes to New York to work with him at the Savoy Ballroom. This was Haynes' introduction to the 52nd street jazz scene and he quickly became a fixture there.
As World War II had recruited many musicians away from their big bands, smaller groups had begun to dominate the scene. A versatile and creative player, Haynes fit in well with the small ensembles that were experimenting and defining the new style that would come to be called bebop. In the late '40s, Haynes backed Miles Davis, Bud Powell and Charlie Parker. Charlie Byrd called Haynes his favorite drummer.
Haynes found a home as Sarah Vaughn's drummer for five years in the 1950s. Following a world tour with Vaughn, Haynes joined Thelonious Monk for several years in 1959. In the early 1960s, Haynes spent time backing Stan Getz and a few years later, joined up with John Coltrane's Quartet, sitting in when the regular Coltrane drummer, Elvin Jones, wasn't available. Haynes went on to collaborate with some of today's most influential jazz artists including Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and Gary Burton, with whom Haynes helped pioneer the jazz-fusion sound.
In addition to backing the jazz world's most historically significant musicians, Haynes has also led his own groups throughout the years. His fist recording date as a leader was in 1958 for an album (recently reissued on CD) called We Three, with Phineas Newborn on piano and Paul Chambers on bass. In addition to his Hip Ensemble, Haynes has led trios and quartets of various make-ups over the years, which have included artists such as Roland Kirk, Donald Harrison, George Adams and Hannibal Marvin Peterson.
One of the most important and influential of the modern jazz drummers, Haynes has been named an NEA Jazz Master and has been inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame. The Jazz Journalist Association awarded Haynes its Lifetime Achievement Award and he's also received French Chevalier des l'Ordres Artes et des Lettres.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Roy Haynes on Piano Jazz: