Called “one of the chief architects of modern jazz drumming” (JazzTimes), Louis Hayes is one of the leading jazz drummers of all time. Born and raised in Detroit, Hayes was always surrounded by music, and after starting on piano as a child, his father gave him a set of drums at age 10. Mentored by a cousin that noticed his talent, Hayes went on to establish himself on the Detroit scene, working with artists including Yusef Lateef and Kenny Burrell. He moved to New York at the young age of 18 to join Horace Silver’s band, and he continued on to work with a who’s who of jazz legends, including John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, and many more.
We are proud to present this living legend as part of our Uptown Nights music series. The evening is a celebration of Hayes’ new album, Exactly Right, released today on Savant Records, as well as his being named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2023, which was officially bestowed on him just a few weeks prior to his arrival at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse. Performing with his quintet, Hayes will be joined on stage by Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Vincent Herring (saxophone), David Hazeltine (piano), and Dezron Douglas (bass).
Thank you for joining us!
Harlem Stage
This program is supported, in part, by, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Louis Hayes
Drums
Steve Nelson Vibraphone
Vincent Herring Saxophone
David Hazeltine Piano
Dezron Douglas Bass
For Louis Hayes, the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, his latest album Exactly Right! tells the story he wants to tell about being a Jazz musician with a history that began when he was a teenager in Detroit, Michigan. His philosophy is to play the music with total honesty with musicians who have the same feeling he has. According to Lou, the album is “Exactly Right!”
NEA Jazz Master Louis Sedell Hayes was born May 31, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan. He was always surrounded by music, actually first starting with the piano, before his father gave him a set of drums at age 10. A cousin noticed his talent, took him under his wing and made sure that his approach to the instrument would serve him well. And well it did, for after developing his skills in the fertile musical ground of Detroit in the 1950’s with the likes of Yusef Lateef, Kenny Burrell, Doug Watkins and others, Louis found himself at the tender age of 18 in New York as a member of the great Horace Silver Quintet. His first recording with Horace, the classic Six Pieces Of Silver would introduce him to the jazz world as a new force to be acknowledged.
Louis continued to enhance his reputation with Horace from 1956 until 1959 when he joined Cannonball Adderley where he propelled the quintet to joyous musical heights and timeless recordings through 1965. He joined piano master Oscar Peterson from 196567 during which time he and bassist Sam Jones became known as the “dynamic duo”, recognized as the most powerful rhythm duo in jazz. Louis would rejoin Oscar in 1971 for a year.
For the next decade or more he became leader or co-leader of a series of electrifying groups which included musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Barron, Junior Cooke, Woody Shaw and Dexter Gordon. Louis also spent several years touring with McCoy Tyner. The Louis Hayes Group with Herald Mabern and Frank Strozier culminated four years of artistry with the album, Variety Is the Spice, which received five stars; truly an accomplishment
during a period when his style of hard driving, “bebop” was less preferred. He continuously traveled throughout the United States, Europe and Japan making musical history wherever he performed.
Louis has played and recorded with jazz greats such as John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, J J Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Wes Montgomery, Joe Henderson, Cedar Walton, George Benson as well as Ravi Shankar, John Lee Hooker and others. He has been awarded many honors including:
• The Down Beat New Star Award — 1961
• State Of Louisiana Special Recognition Award — 1986
• State Of Michigan Special Tribute 1996
• The Society of the Culturally Concerned Appreciation Award — 1996
• The Greater Jamaican Development Corp. In Appreciation Of — 1996
• Spirit Of Detroit Award — 2004
• Life Time Achievement Award From Bakers Keyboard Lounge — 2004
• United States House Of Representatives Special Tribute — 2004
He has been leading The Cannonball Legacy Band, which pays tribute to the gifted art form of that heritage and The Jazz Communicators for over a decade. Recent engagements of note include The Kennedy Center for the Arts, The JVC Jazz Festival, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the Chivas Jazz Festival in Brazil.
His latest recording Crisis (Savant) was released in 2021 and features Camille Thurman on vocals, Abraham Burton on tenor saxophone, Steve Nelson on vibraphone, David Hazeltine on piano, Derzon Douglas on bass and the master Louis Hayes on drums. The liner notes for this recording were written by Maxine Gordon.
Recently, Louis Hayes was named and NEA Jazz Master. A ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC was held on April 1, 2023.
Dezron Douglas, bass player and co-producer of the last two Louis Hayes albums, was a protégé of the great Jackie McLean. He was the Downbeat Magazine 2019 Rising Star and is known for his work with Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Cyrus Chestnut, David Murray, and Enrico Rava.
https://dezrondouglas.squarespace.com
David Hazeltine is a pianist who has recorded almost 40 CD’s as a leader on a variety of worldwide record labels. David’s extensive work with Louis Hayes began in 1996 with “The Classic Trio.” He is featured on Louis Hayes’ last two albums, Crisis and Exactly Right.
https://www.davidhazeltine.com
Vincent Herring first toured in the United States and Europe as part of the Lionel Hampton Big Band. With his sound strongly influenced by Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Vincent’s virtuosity and promise came to the attention of Nat Adderley. The two forged a nine-year musical relationship, producing nine albums and touring around the world year after year. After Nat’s death, Louis Hayes collaborated with Vincent to form the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. Vincent worked and recorded with Cedar Walton for more than 20 years.
https://www.vincentherring.com
Steve Nelson has been acknowledged as “...the most completely realized and original performer on the vibraphone.” Steve has been the vibraphonist of choice among some of jazz’s most iconic artists including Louis Hayes, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, Dave Holland, and Mulgrew Miller. He is featured on Louis Hayes’ recordings Serenade for Horace, Crisis, and Exactly Right.
https://www.stevenelsonvibes.com/bio
We are thrilled to announce that legendary activist, scholar, and writer, Angela Davis, joins rock-goddess Nona Hendryx and award-winning singer/songwriter and activist Toshi Reagon in DAY 2 of our three-day conference to discuss music and struggle.
Learn more about this and all events and participants including Sonia Sanchez, A.B. Spellman, Felipe Luciano, and more, plus performances featuring Henry Threadgill, Dafnis Prieto, Craig Taborn, Vernon Reid, and more! You don’t want to miss a single day so get your tickets now.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
Harlem Stage’s Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas.
For nearly 40 years our singular mission has been to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. We provide opportunity, commissioning, and support for artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all audiences, and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts.
We fulfill our mission through commissioning, incubating, and presenting innovative and vital work that responds to the historical and contemporary conditions that shape our lives and the communities we serve.
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