Articles

Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace

by Victor L. Schermer
October 11, 2017

This gem of a tribute album is, in the words of the poet Wordsworth, a “recollection in tranquility" conceived and led by drummer Louis Hayes in memory of his beloved lifelong friend, pianist Horace Silver. In 1956, Silver invited Hayes to New York City from his native Detroit to join the Horace Silver Quintet, which produced a series of ground-breaking Blue Note albums. Now, at 80, Hayes' drumming is as superb and as youthful as ever, a reason in itself ...

Louis Hayes: Still Moving Straight Ahead

by Joan Gannij
May 23, 2017

Louis Hayes will turn 80 on May 31 (2017), but the party is still goin' hearty. He started celebrating this milestone back in February with an 18-day tour that began in Barcelona and concluded in jny: Amsterdam. It was mostly one-nighters with three nights in jny: Athens, two in jny: Paris and jny: London appearances at the usual places, like Fasching in jny: Stockholm, the Sunset Club and Ronnie Scott's. I caught the jny: Detroit native during his final concert ...

Louis Hayes: Return of the Jazz Communicators

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 11, 2014

Much like what has happened with Smalls Records, the cottage industry that Smoke jazz club started when they debuted their own record label last fall has continued to grow into a viable commodity. So too, there is common ground to the look and feel of each release, even as the color scheme and the music itself changes. For the label's 5th full release, they have documented a November 2013 set led by the mighty Detroit drummer Louis Hayes and his ...

Louis Hayes Quartet: San Diego CA, May 10, 2011

by Robert Bush
May 29, 2011

Louis Hayes Quartet Saville Theatre, San Diego City College San Diego, CAMay 10, 2011 Jazz legend Louis Hayes, a significant progenitor of modern percussion since the early 1950s, visited San Diego's Saville Theatre on May 10, and, with an elite group of local musicians, delivered a blistering set of post-bop, mainstream classics to an enthusiastic, sold-out crowd. Hayes, 74, a native of Detroit, first gained national prominence as a sideman with ...

Louis Hayes: The Time Keeper

by John Patten
August 6, 2009

If drummer Louis Hayes intended to recreate the classic sounds of, well, Louis Hayes recordings on The Time Keeper, he succeeded. In a set of tunes that includes two penned by Hayes, two by saxophonist Abraham Burton, and two by pianist Horace Silver for good measure, Hayes reminds why he's been a leader--and a leading sideman--for so many years.

As a time keeper, Hayes is impeccable. Never as boisterous as Art Blakey or as subtle as Philly Joe ...

Louis Hayes: The Time Keeper & Off The Cuff

by Graham L. Flanagan
July 11, 2009

Louis HayesThe Timekeeper18th & Vine2009 Rick GermansonOff the CuffOwl Studios2009 Louis Hayes still ranks among the few hard bop legends that emerged during the '50s and '60s who still contribute to the contemporary jazz scene. Perhaps his most famous association was with Horace Silver but his next major gig arrived as part of Cannonball ...

Louis Hayes at Showplace Studios

by David A. Orthmann
July 6, 2008

Housed in the rear of a nondescript building on a busy northern New Jersey thoroughfare, Showplace Studios is a no frills workspace nearly devoid of worldly distractions. The Showplace consists of an office, a small lounge, a control room, and studio. Regardless of where you are in the compact area, everything is just a few steps away. Before the musicians arrive to begin the day's recording, the place is silent except for the low drone of the recording machinery. The ...