At 85, the eternally youthful Roy Haynes is the very definition of a living legend of jazz. When he sits down at the drums, he brings to bear nearly 70 years of performing to each and every authoritative stroke. The seemingly unstoppable swing of this Grammy-nominated, Victoire d’Honneur-awarded master has graced the sound of a “Who’s-Who” list of jazz giants including Lester Young, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, and John Coltrane. Don’t miss this Rialto premiere by the man most often described simply as “the father of modern jazz drumming.”
When Roy Haynes plays his drums, sixty years of experience informs every authoritative stroke. A working musician since 1942, Haynes’ unrelenting swing and sound of surprise has graced the bands of a who’s-who list of jazz innovators across a wide spectrum of improvisation.
Haynes assesses his restless persona – “I am constantly practicing in my head. In fact, a teacher in school once sent me to the principal, because I was drumming with my hands on the desk in class. My father used to say I was just nervous. I’m always thinking rhythms, drums. When I was very young I used to practice a lot; not any special thing, but just practice playing. Now I’m like a doctor. When he’s operating on you, he’s practicing. When I go to my gigs, that’s my practice. I may play something that I never heard before or maybe that you never heard before. It’s all a challenge. I deal with sounds. I’m full of rhythm, man. I feel it. I think summer, winter, fall, spring, hot, cold, fast and slow — colors. But I don’t analyze it. I’ve been playing professionally over 50 years, and that’s the way I do it. I always surprise myself. The worst surprise is when I can’t get it to happen. But it usually comes out. I don’t play for a long period, and then I’m like an animal, a lion or tiger locked in its cage, and when I get out I try to restrain myself. I don’t want to overplay. I like the guys to trade, and I just keep it moving, and spread the rhythm, as Coltrane said. Keep it moving, keep it crisp.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YegtSP_OtIg
When: Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 – 8:00PM
Where: The Rialto Theatre
180 Forsyth Street
Atlanta, GA
Tickets: $37 / $47 / $61 
For more information, visit http://www.rialtocenter.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/royhaynes
Click Here to Win Tickets to this Show
Trivia Question:
In what category did Roy get his Grammy nomination?
Entry Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011
The “How BIG is Your Dream?!” Foundation’s mission is to promote, educate and develop our youth to excel in music. The vision is to provide a platform to create a learning and performance experience to master your talents in all major aspects of music diversity through live entertainment. By offering programs, services and scholarships to youth desiring music; while enhancing music appreciation.
