Roy Haynes and Birds of a Feather

[Jazzooo]

What a terrific concert. The 'purpose' of the concert was to present the tunes of Charlie Parker, albeit in a hard bop setting. In reality they played the music of Monk and at least a few other composers, though Parker's songs did get featured as well.

I can't say enough about Haynes. It's not about chops, it's not about flash, it's not about time...it's all about momentum with this guy. From the start of a song to the end, he's moving, dancing, exchanging ideas with Dave Kikowski on piano every few seconds which served to keep the soloists on their toes. Haynes the senior citizen can wail when he needs to--and he apparently needs to quite often, as most of the tunes built to roaring climaxes at some point.

Dave Kikowski was superb, bursting with interesting voicings and syncopated jabs. He seemed equally comfortable playing inside the chord changes as he was reharmonizing the songs during his solos. In some ways, he was the real star of the evening--his tender solo reading of Lover Man (a request from the audience) was worthy of a standing ovation.

Christian McBride, although still hampered by the same slightly boomy sound he got 5 years ago when I heard him (probably due to his insistance of using only a mic to amplify his bass as opposed to blending in a pickup signal which really helps in a hall this size), knocked me out, plain and simple. This is a special player, who won't leave a solo until he's explored a wide spectrum of possibilities. He would often start quite simply, playing a simple groove with only slight embellishments...and then he'd escalate the energy level, verse after verse, until you were certain that he couldn't turn it up any higher. Lo and behold, several times he did indeed hit another level of energy before he was done.

The front line, Nicholas Payton and Kenny Garrett, were absolutely fine. Payton has a warm sound and interesting ideas, but his detached stage presence seemed even more obvious in contrast to the swinging, smiling players in the rhythm section. I have to say that overall Kenny Garrett played well, but on several solos I felt as if he might have been distracted or not really in the mood. He'd get a little stuck, developing a motif and then altering it, then again, then again. There's no denying that he's a fantastic player, though, but this wasn't the best I'd heard him.

The rhythm section...well, while they didn't play with the heady cosmic freedom or the sohpistication of Wayne Shorter's current section, they did manage to swing like banshees and still leave tons of space everywhere they went. It was very open and raucous at times, but always straight ahead.

Haynes' solos throughout the night were the highlights for me. Because I'm a drummer myself, I tend to evaluate what I hear in part by weighing it against what I'm able to play when I'm at my best. There's no question that Roy's skills are superb, but what separates him from most other drummers aren't the polished rudiments you might hear woven tastefully through a Peter Erskine or Ed Thigpen solo. His creative and physical energy is much more akin to Jack DeJohnette's or Tony Williams imo, and his bluntness absolutely won me over from the first measure. All through the night I found myself marvelling at his directness, and by that i mean the way he jumped into every song, every section, every solo head first and never looked up. The sense of swing, of perpetual motion, was everything...that's something many drummers may never master, regardless of their chops.

[Valerie]

Jazzooo: What a great review!! And written far better than most reviews I've read, and with greater knowledge and sensitivity, I dare say!! Thanks muchly.

[Tom Storer]

Thanks, Doug, for a great review. I'm with you concerning Hayne's sense of swing and momentum, that kinetic energy that makes everything he plays so fresh and exciting. It's pure pleasure - that sly, provocative playfulness and total aplomb. For me Haynes defines the word "hip." And Kikoski is an undersung monster. I've heard a trio album of his which didn't get across his talent at stoking the flames. A couple of years ago I saw a Haynes concert (with Dwayne Burno and Ron Blake) where Kikoski's right hand was in a cast. He played the whole concert with his left hand only, solos and all, and he *still* just about stole the show. Amazing.

[Jazzooo]

"that sly, provocative playfulness "

That's a perfect description of Haynes, Tom. Great story about Kikowski in a cast!

[stonemonkts]

I saw precisely the same lineup/tunes at the Blue Note a few years ago. I was excited to be there, having never seen Haynes live. I enjoyed some of it, but to be honest, midway through I was beginning to feel boredom with the format....yeah, Payton can blow (I was sitting directly under his horn) and McBride sure can pluck those strings, but the polished slickness of their delivery left me ice cold. Nothing against them personally, just not my cup of tea.

Seemed more like a highly technical display of bop without any soul whatsoever.

Garrett was pretty good (he usually is at least that much).

Haynes was ok (he received some award midway through the set, the highlight was his sarcastic acceptance speech..something along the lines of having to be an ancient motherfucker to finally earn recognition).

Kikoski stole the show. With both hands.

In contrast, a few nights later we went to the Knitting Factory to see Sonny Simmons, Michael Marcus, bass?? player escapes me, and Andrew Cyrille (billed as the Cosmosomatics). Now THAT was a show! Those cats blew us away completely. I was ready to levitate out of my seat. The energy emanating from those guys was very palpable, the music sounded to me as if Dolphy was reincarnated (or more accurately, never died...this music was not in any way a type of rehash of Dolphy's concepts but more as if his spirit was embodied in the souls of Marcus and Simmons, if that makes any sense).

[Tom Storer]

I love Andrew Cyrille, but Andrew Cyrille is no Roy Haynes.

[stonemonkts]

Originally posted by Tom Storer
I love Andrew Cyrille, but Andrew Cyrille is no Roy Haynes.

Fair enough.

I wish I had as many chances to see Roy Haynes as I have Andrew Cyrille (who I've seen at least 10 times in the past 3 years).

I cherish every session with Haynes in my collection. His stints with Monk, Coltrane (at very key points in Trane's career), Dolphy, Oliver Nelson, Sarah Vaughan, Bud Powell, Bird, Corea, Jackie McLean, and Roland Kirk. You're right, Andrew Cyrille is no Roy Haynes!

I still prefer Andrew Cyrille today. I believe part of the reason is Haynes' current choices in musical terms vs. Cyrille's. I definitely lean more toward the territory Andrew Cyrille covers presently both on CD and live.

Not to say I don't enjoy the more straight ahead styles. One of the finest sets I've seen/heard was a little gig Barry Harris played on a Sunday afternoon at the William Paterson campus auditorium. But I digress.

One last thing....I'd be remiss if I didn't add that Jazoo's review was a great read. I hate to come off as snotty which really wasn't my intention.

[James Lee]

Somehow I knew that Doug would be commenting on this concert, since I was there as well, and I can say that not only is his review a good read, it's right on the money IMHO.

I was really knocked out by Kikoski! And yes, the trip he took us on with Loverman was absolutely amazing. Though he didn't get an ovation, he did receive a hearty roar of approval. I also feel he's one of the undersung pianists in jazz. This was my first time to hear most of the guys live - 'till now I'd only heard Christian, so this was a real treat.

I'm vowing to get seats closer to the stage from now on. While the sound further back from Jazzooo was alright, (where I was sitting) I'm guessing it had to have been significantly better up close and personal.

It was good seein' you again, Doug. Toward the end of the evening you looked like you were heading for a "conference" with Tripp Sprague, and I was curious what your take on the performance was. Now I know!

[Jazzooo]

hey, James--it was great to see you there. I looked but didn't see you after the show, but afterwards Tripp came over to the house and we played a little (he's a semi-drummer, I'm a semi-bassist but the magic was happening that night!) You would have been most welcome.

You're right--Kikoski didn't get the standing ovation, but I only said he deserved one.

As for sitting close--there's no substitution in my book. I wish i could say that i planned early but I bought my tickets 30 minutes before the show at the window. And in a nice coincidence it was almost the exact seat I had for the Wayne Shorter Quartet last year!

[Jazzooo]

no sweat, stonemonkts.

[Ron Thorne]

Jazzooo-

Thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable review of a concert I wish I could have attended. Roy Haynes is and always has been one of my most revered drummers. His impeccable taste and style, understanding and use/timing of understatement and drive, and brilliant cymbal work are enough to endear him to me. But then, he dresses and looks so hip, too!

Sigh.

[Tom Storer]

Originally posted by stonemonkts
I still prefer Andrew Cyrille today. I believe part of the reason is Haynes' current choices in musical terms vs. Cyrille's. I definitely lean more toward the territory Andrew Cyrille covers presently both on CD and live.

I can understand that. I was being a little provocative with my statement that Cyrille is no Roy Haynes. Haynes is no Cyrille, either; both are superb in my book. I just happen to prefer Haynes as a drummer.