"A Life in Time: The Roy Haynes Story" and Boxed Set Documentary

Source: NOW FORWARD MUSIC
October 23, 2007
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A four disc boxed set (3 CDs + 1 bonus DVD) celebrating the career of legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes

An unprecedented project offering a wild musical ride through 60 years of jazz featuring recordings licensed from nearly a dozen different labels of Roy Haynes with the Giants of Jazz: Miles, Bird, Monk, Getz, Coltrane, Corea, Metheny and more, and leading his own influential groups.

Entertaining and informative, Life in Time highlights the evolution of the artist and the medium, setting the music in its historical context with detailed notes and a 40+ minute bonus DVD of rare interviews and performances.

New York, NY--Paris-based independent label Dreyfus Jazz released A Life in Time: The Roy Haynes Story, an exquisitely assembled four-disc boxed set (3 CDs + bonus DVD) celebrating the career of legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes.

A Life in Time not only tells Roy's story - it tells a thrilling story of jazz, and all of its glorious changes. Featuring highlights of Roy's work as a sideman and as a bandleader, this one-of-a-kind collection brings together a plethora of history-making recordings.

Roy was there: Bud Powell's groundbreaking first sessions for Blue Note ("Bouncin' with Bud"); Sonny Rollins' first recordings as a leader ("I Know," featuring Miles Davis on piano); Charlie Parker's classic Latin sessions ("My Little Suede Shoes"); fueling one of Sarah Vaughan's most electrifying performances ("Shulie-A-Bop"); Etta Jones break-out hit for Prestige ("Don't Go To Strangers"); stretching boundaries with Eric Dolphy on Outward Bound; Thelonious Monk with Johnny Griffin at The Five Spot ("Rhythm-a-ning"); John Coltrane changing the sound of jazz at the Newport Jazz Festival ("My Favorite Things"); Chick Corea's breakthrough ("Matrix"); and the list goes on!

Equally as impressive are Roy's great moments as a leader: forever cool with Phineas Newborn and Paul Chambers from We Three; with Rahsaan Roland Kirk on the classic Out of the Afternoon; the funky fusion of Roy's early 70's Mainstream recordings ("Equipoise"); and from his Dreyfus Jazz catalogue - great moments with Pat Metheny ("James"); Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove and Dave Holland featured on the all-star tribute to Bird ("My Heart Belongs To Daddy"); to his most recent Grammy Nominated recordings with the Fountain of Youth band.

Featuring a brand new essay by renowned author and jazz historian Ashley Kahn, photos by Enid Farber (cover) and Chuck Stewart, and a bonus DVD of stories told by the man himself, A Life in Time: The Roy Haynes Story is the musical event of the year!

Roy Haynes, born on March 13, 1925, in Roxbury, MA, first came on the scene at a pivotal time in jazz history, when the Swing Era was drawing to a close and bebop was still being born. “I'm one of the last innovators from the '40s who's still out there saying something new," Haynes has said.

The drum legend made his professional debut at the age of seventeen in his hometown, working around Boston with pianist Sabby Lewis, Frankie Newton, and Pete Brown. In September of 1945, Roy Haynes made his New York City debut at the Savoy, playing in the big band pioneer Luis Russell's group. Before long, he became drummer of choice for large and small ensembles and in 1947 he joined Lester Young's band, and two years later, Charlie Parker's. From late 1940s through mid-1950s, Haynes worked with such greats as Miles Davis, Bud Powell, and Kai Winding. He toured with Sarah Vaughan for five years before joining Thelonious Monks band in 1957. He's made eight recordings with Eric Dolphy in 1960-61, worked extensively with Stan Getz from 1961 to 1965, played and recorded with the John Coltrane Quartet from 1963 to 1965.

Roy Haynes is one of the most recorded drummers in jazz, but it wasn't until 1958 that he released his first album as a leader: We Three, with pianist Phineas Newborn and bassist Paul Chambers.

Thelonious Monk once described Roy Haynes' drumming as “an eight ball right in the side pocket." Jack DeJohnette calls Roy's percolations “a rare combination of street education, high sophistication and soul." Pat Metheny says Haynes is the “father of modern drumming" and “a national treasure." Lester Young summed up Haynes' genius best perhaps when the two shared a bandstand in October, 1947, exclaiming, “Haynes, you sure are swinging! “

For over 60 years Roy Haynes has influenced and innovated, shaping some of the greatest recordings in jazz while altering the very fabric and direction of jazz improvisation with his mercurial, intelligent, joyous drumming. Not only has Haynes seen the full sweep of jazz history, he's played a huge role in shaping it. And he continues to do so, not least of all by nurturing so many of today's most promising young musicians.

On September 27, 2007, Roy performed and was honored at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference Jazz Issue Forum and Concert at the Washington Convention Center, in Washington, DC. Hosted for the past 21-years by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), the Forum and Concert celebrates and educates the public about jazz.

Freeing jazz's borders, infusing its lifeblood, steering it towards greater freedom and more distinctive expression, Roy Haynes is a national treasure who continues to forge new paths at 82, dumbfounding jazz lovers, not to mention Father Time and Mother Nature.

For the jazz novice, A Life in Time: The Roy Haynes Story is an invaluable introduction to the living history of jazz. For the jazz connoisseur, it is an exhilarating journey through time, guided by the unstoppable octogenarian. For the music lover, A Life in Time: The Roy Haynes Story is an incomparable anthology of the greatest invention America has introduced--jazz. Roy Haynes is a source of inspiration and the heart and soul of music.

A Life in Time: The Roy Haynes Story (Boxed Set Documentary)