A veteran drummer long overshadowed by others, but finally gaining recognition for his talents and versatility,
Roy Haynes has been a major player since the 1940s. He worked early on with the Sabby Lewis big band,
Frankie Newton,
Luis Russell (1945-1947), and
Lester Young (1947-1949). After some engagements with
Kai Winding,
Haynes was a member of
the Charlie Parker Quintet (1949-1952); he also recorded during this era with
Bud Powell,
Wardell Gray, and
Stan Getz.
Haynes toured the world with
Sarah Vaughan (1953-1958); played with
Thelonious Monk in 1958; led his own group; and gigged with
George Shearing,
Lennie Tristano,
Eric Dolphy, and
Getz (1961). He was
Elvin Jones' occasional substitute with
John Coltrane's classic quartet during 1961-1965, toured with
Getz (1965-1967), and was with
Gary Burton (1967-1968). In addition to touring with
Chick Corea (1981 and 1984) and
Pat Metheny (1989-1990),
Haynes has led his own Hip Ensemble on and off during the past several decades. When one considers that he has also gigged with
Miles Davis,
Art Pepper,
Horace Tapscott, and
Dizzy Gillespie, it is fair to say that
Haynes has played with about everyone. He led dates for EmArcy and Swing (both in 1954), New Jazz (1958 and 1960), Impulse (a 1962 quartet album with
Roland Kirk), Pacific Jazz, Mainstream, Galaxy, Dreyfus, Evidence, and Storyville. In 1994,
Haynes was awarded the Danish Jazzpar prize, and two years later, he received the prestigious French Chevalier des l'Ordres Artes et des Lettres. In the late '90s,
Haynes formed a trio with pianist
Danilo Perez and bassist John Pattitucci, and they released their debut album,
The Roy Haynes Trio Featuring Danilo Perez & John Pattitucci, in early 2000 on Verve.
Haynes' son
Graham is an excellent cornetist.
Haynes paid tribute to
Charlie Parker in 2001 with Birds of a Feather, his fourth release for the Dreyfus Jazz label, which was subsequently nominated for a Grammy in 2002;
Fountain of Youth followed two years later. Also released in 2004, Quiet Fire compiled two of his prior releases for Galaxy (1977's Thank You Thank You and 1978's Vistalite) into one back-to-back record. Whereas appeared in mid-2006, and it earned
Haynes a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. ~ Scott Yanow