Home » Jazz News » Recording

119

Acclaimed Experimental Wizard Graham Haynes to Release "Full Circle"

Source:

Sign in to view read count

Full Circle unites the worlds of free-jazz, drum n bass, noise
and experimental electronic music



On June 26, RKM Music/Kindred Rhythm Music Group will release Full Circle - the brand new album from forward thinking musician/composer/sound artist Graham Haynes, who is long known as an artist that cannot be contained by artistic boundaries and styles. Haynes' new album - his first in seven years - features numerous guest musicians and traverses a musical world in which jazz, drum 'n' bass and dub share a common bond.



From the rings of Haynes cornet on opening track “Turandot Overture and excerpt from Act III," you'll be invited to his kinetic and organic soundscape rich in color and texture. Here, the mighty brass instrumentation is paired with a sonic drum 'n' bass explosion and electronic noise for a unique exploration into a brave new world of sound. When the chaos let's up, Haynes delivers a lush, jazzy lullaby in the form of “Circle One." LaTanya Hall's poignant vocals perfectly complement the soothing horns and jagged drums creating a compelling musical journey. A world of contrasts follows next with the ensuing tracks “1st Quadrant" and “Quarter Circle." Heavy-duty bass, powerful breakbeat drums and stray horns help to complete a powerful and scattered “1st Quadrant," but Haynes brings it back to a calm place thanks to the gorgeous harpsichord that drips prominently over “Quarter Circle." There's something beautiful, yet ominous about this track. At its essence, this is the formula for the entire album - a back and forth between civility and complexity - Haynes' way to keep the listeners on their toes.



Graham Haynes was born with a rich tradition of music in his veins. The Hollis, Queens native is the son of veteran Jazz drummer Roy Haynes; best known for his associations with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, and Pat Metheny among others. Although he grew up around jazz musicians and is considered an innovator on cornet and flugelhorn, the younger Haynes aspired to push jazz beyond its traditional boundaries. This expansion beyond a jazz norm focuses on pairing up the cornet with technology to create imaginative and subtle sonic environments. But unlike other acts that pair together digital and analog instruments, Haynes manages to retain a rich and affecting vibe with his music. The cornet stands tall amongst everything else, providing a level of expression that humanizes and enhances the synthetic sounds.



Graham Haynes' first foray into electronic music came in 1979 upon meeting alto saxophonist Steve Coleman. Together, they formed a band called Five Elements, which launched an influential group of improvisers called M-Base Collective. After the formation of his own ensemble - Graham Haynes and No Image - and the subsequent release of an album (What Time It Be?), Haynes would spend the balance of the 1980's studying a wide range of African, Arabic and South Asian Music. After a move to France in 1990, Haynes concentrated these far-off influences into his next two releases - Nocturne Parisian and Griot's Footsteps. Looking for his next musical challenge, Haynes returned to New York City in 1993 to take advantage of the flourishing Hip-Hop scene; and the resulting album was the sample heavy Transi tion. After the release of yet another hybridized album - 1996's Tones For The 21st Century - Haynes discovered drum 'n' bass and began working with some of the genres finest DJs and producers in London and the U.S. This manifested in the release of 2000's BPM, a fusion of drum n' bass beats with the classical music of Richard Wagner.



Since the release of BPM, Haynes has kept busy with several interesting projects. He has created several critically acclaimed multimedia projects, composed the score for films Flag War and The Promise, and lectured at New York University, while receiving two nominations for the prestigious Alpert Award For The Arts. With the release of Full Circle, Haynes fortifies his name as one of the most important and forward thinking artists of our time.



Graham Haynes - Full Circle - RKM Music/Kindred Rhythm (KRM-CD-1137)
Street Date: June 26, 2007

For more information contact .


Comments

Tags

News

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.