R.I.P. Roy Haynes

A eulogy for one of the greatest jazz drummers to ever do it

Roy Haynes has died. The legendary drummer made it all the way to 99. You should follow Ted Gioia, read the New York Times, or look elsewhere for the many full tributes. But I just wanted to dash out a few lines since he was one of the greatest to ever do it and therefore absolutely one of my favourite jazz drummers of all time.

A professional drummer across an astounding eight decades, Haynes recorded dozens of albums as a leader, or co-leader of a range of ensembles. But also had a hand in so many more through sessions, including playing with Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Jackie McLean, Alice Coltrane, Archie Shepp, Red Garland, and so many more absolute legends within the genre. He played bop and swing, fusion and avant-garde, and all points in-between.

One of my all-time favourite albums is We Three by the trio of Haynes, Phineas Newborn Jr., and Paul Chambers. Released in 1958, it sounds as fresh today as when I first heard it sometime in the late 1990s — must have been mind-blowing in the late 50s; as so much of that wonderful music was, and still is.

But I probably first heard of Haynes — I feel like his playing is just everywhere through the music I love, mostly as a player, and then almost always as an influence — as I started to check out the early work of some of those legends mentioned above. Hearing Haynes with Miles Davis on Miles and Horns, and on Sonny Rollins’ The Sound of Sonny — another favourite to this day:

Bit if anything cemented Haynes, as a name, it was hearing him play with Coltrane. The name I associated with Coltrane on drums is Elvin Jones. I’m sure everyone does. But on Newport ‘63, Roy Haynes subs in. No one could sub for Elvin, but Roy could. And he did it by playing the way he always played. Always himself. Everyone’s equal.

After that, I had to hear more from Haynes, so I found the We Three record, I found his playing on my favourite Chick Corea album:

And I guess after that, I would click that it was sometimes Haynes that would help a record to become my favourite. Like It’s Time by Jackie McLean for another example:

My god what a player. A favourite clip from recent years, is Haynes playing solo on Late Night as part of David Letterman’s Drum Solo Week:

That’s a while back now, and in recent years, all over Instagram there were clips of Roy in his late 90s still driving bands, still taking and giving joy to and from the music. Which is what it’s all about. And maybe his greatest gift to the instrument. He never looked angry, nor aloof, he was always in the zone and giving so wholly and readily to the song and the sound and the feel and the flow of the music.

There are simply too many songs and albums to dip into but here’s a sampler to get you started:

R.I.P. Roy Haynes

New York Times