A few days late here with this blog post as I've been preoccupied lately, finishing up an impending grant application due imminently (fun times...)
The great Roy Haynes passed away last week at the age of 99 and I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the legacy of this great musician.
Roy Haynes was a prolific jazz drummer who's career spanned decades, playing with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Sarah Vaughn, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny and so many, many more.
Haynes, affectionately know as "Snap Crackle", was an icon who lifted the bandstand with his uncompromising and unique style and personality, on and off the drums.
Lenny White has often referred to the Magnificent Seven, a distinguished club of the greatest of the greats that includes Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and, of course, Roy Haynes. Haynes was the last of these Titans among us and now he's gone. I feel a great sense of duty to up hold the high level of musical integrity that these artists set for the rest of us.
I was fortunate to see Haynes perform on numerous occasions, notably with his Fountain of Youth and Birds of a Feather bands. Probably my most memorable memory of hearing Roy play was a mind-blowing duet with Kenny Garrett on Charlie Parker's My Little Suede Shoes at the Blue Note in New York City circa. November 2001 (sitting in the front row, in front of Haynes' glittering Yamaha drums of course, with my friend and bassist Solon McDade).
I also shared a brief 60 second elevator ride with Roy Haynes at an IAJE convention when I was 18 years old. I knew he was going to be at the conference so I kept my CD liner notes to Now He Sings, Now He Sobs in my back pocket in case I had the opportunity for an autograph. The liner notes were well worn, crumpled and bent out of shape by the time I stepped in that elevator but Mr. Haynes kindly obliged and I got my autograph.
I distinctly remember when and where I was when I first heard Roy Haynes on record. After I heard his intro to Solar from Question & Answer with Pat Metheny and Dave Holland, played over loud speakers in my high school band room, I was hooked. I've never heard or played the drums the same since then.
Thank you Mr. Haynes for your lifetime of music.
Here's a few articles that have been making the rounds lately:
• Rembering Roy Haynes with Adam Nussbaum from UK Jazz News
• Wonderful commentary from Vinnie Sperrazza's Substack Chronicles including a wonderfully curated playlist to listen to
• Obituaries from NPR's Ben Ratliff and the New York Times's Nate Chinen
• Todd Bishop's thoughts on Roy Haynes via his always excellent blog Cruiseship Drummer
• Three great columns from Ethan Iverson including Farewell to Roy Haynes, John Coltrane and Roy Haynes and Roy Haynes and the Piano Trio (great commentary and insight from Billy Hart here too!)
Here's a few of my favourites clips of Roy Haynes that I often watch for some inspiration (feel free to offer your favourites as well...):
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