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Phillip A. Haynes

A 25-year veteran New York based artist now teaching at Pennsylvania’s Bucknell University, Phil Haynes is featured on more than 85 LP, DVD and CD releases by numerous American and European record labels.

About Me

A veteran artist based in New York for 25 years, and one of the leading jazz stylists of his generation, Phil Haynes has penned 60+ original compositions featured on dozens of international LP, CD, and DVD releases. Haynes’ debut, The Paul Smoker Trio’s QB with Anthony Braxton, was named the #1 recording of 1985 by esteemed critic Kevin Whitehead. The international media have compared his drumming to masters Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes and Elvin Jones, and his compositions to Duke Ellington, Charles Ives, Charles Mingus and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. His performances were recently noted to be “The perfect middle between tradition and avant-garde, between power and sophistication, between accessibility and adventure. . . standards with a new sense of drama, dynamics, and true moments of fun.”

In addition to the critically acclaimed three recordings for Enja Records by the composer’s collective, Joint Venture (w/Drew Gress, Ellery Eskelin & Paul Smoker), Haynes’ diverse and distinctive recordings as a leader include: Continuum (violinist Mark Feldman’s jazz debut); the groundbreaking ensemble 4 Horns & What?; his initial recording of jazz standards, A Couch in Brooklyn; The Hammond Insurgency with B-3 organ virtuoso Jeff Palmer; Free Country’s trilogy of Americana with cellist/vocalist Hank Roberts; the singular solo drum-set recording, Sanctuary, as well as three releases by No Fast Food, his defining saxophone trio featuring NEA jazz master David Liebman.

Moving to central Pennsylvania in 2003, Haynes founded the nationally noted Jazz@Bucknell chamber series in 2005 and was subsequently appointed as Bucknell University’s Kushell Jazz Artist-in- Residence. From 2007-2012, Haynes taught courses in Jazz History, directed his multi-media/new music Bucknell Interdisciplinary Improvisation Ensemble (BIIE), coached the University Jazz Band rhythm section and soloists, worked with various small ensembles and recitalists, maintained a vigorous private studio, and led the Bison Band. Recent years have featured appointments as interim Director of Jazz Studies for both Susquehanna University, PA, and Nazareth College, NY.

Artists Haynes has appeared on CD with include Theo Bleckman, Anthony Braxton, Adam Caine, Joe Daley, Dave Douglas, Mark Dresser, Marty Ehrlich, Ellery Eskelin, Mark Feldman, Ken Filiano, Vinny Golia, Drew Gress, Thomas Heberer, Mark Helias, Lindsay Horner, Ed Jackson, Ritsu Katsumata, David Kikoski, Frank Lacy, Andy Laster, David Liebman, Tony Malaby, Denman Maroney, Michael McNeill, Micu Narunsky, Jeff Palmer, Hank Roberts, Herb Robertson, Ned Rothenberg, Rich Rothenberg, Ted Rosenthal, Michelle Rosewoman, Steve Rudolph, Steve Salerno, Ed Schuller, Paul Smoker, Michael Stevens, David Taylor, Andreas Willers, Gebhard Ullmann, and Tom Varner.

Other diverse performers that Haynes has appeared with in concert include John Abercrombie, Ralph Alessi, Tim Berne, Bobby Bradford, Don Byron, Bill Carrothers, Billy Childs, Marilyn Crispell, Joshua Davis, Jack Dejohnette, Bill Dobbins, Marty Ehrlich, Jon English, Michael Formanek, Joel Frahm, Charles Gayle, Steve Gilmore, Ben Goldberg, Arnold Hammerschlag, Peter Herbert, Ingrid Jensen, Dean Johnson, David Liebman, Albert Manglesdorf, Rita Marcotulli, Tony Marino, Ron McClure, Tony Micelli, Ben Monder, Glenn Moore, Varden Ovsepian, Paul Plimley, Eddie Severn, Louis Sclavis, Leni Stern, John Stowell, John Swana, Steve Swell, Greg Tardy, John Tchicai, Gary Thomas, Thomas Ullrich, Roseanna Vitro, J.D. Waters, Tim Warfield, Kenny Werner, Kenny Wheeler, Larry Willis and Andrea Wolper.

In addition to his Sanctuary solo concert presentations, current Haynes touring ensembles include his: romantic, folk-Americana string band, Free Country, featuring cellist/vocalist Hank Roberts; Three Shamans, featuring Herb Robertson & Ken Filiano; Spontaneous, with Thomas Heberer & Ken Filiano; No Fast Food, with NEA jazz master David Liebman; as well as the classic piano trio, Day Dream, featuring Steve Rudolph & Drew Gress.