Roy Haynes may be 81 years old, but in body and spirit he is very much a young man. Ask any jazz lover: Haynes?s drumming is as dynamic and challenging today as it has ever been. Not for nothing did the Jazz Journalists Association choose to award Haynes its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2006. This comes on top of countless honors and accolades, including induction into the Downbeat magazine Hall of Fame in 2004, as well as Grammy nominations for Haynes?s Dreyfus albums "Fountain of Youth" (2004) and "Birds of a Feather" (2001).
Now Haynes and the Fountain of Youth quartet are back with a new release, titled "Whereas." Featuring Jaleel Shaw on alto sax, Robert Rodriguez on piano and John Sullivan on bass, the album was recorded at the Artist?s Quarter in St. Paul, Minnesota over the course of three nights in January 2006. Chris Coleman, Mayor of St. Paul, MN, officially declared the weekend of January 20 ? 22 the "Roy Haynes Weekend". The recording documents the no-holds-barred interaction of one of the last true "apprenticeship" bands in jazz. In the grand tradition of Art Blakey?s Jazz Messengers, Haynes?s quartet is a proving ground for young, up-and-coming musicians with the talent and fortitude to go head-to-head, night after night, with this unstoppable octogenarian.
On "Whereas," Haynes and his cohorts display an extraordinary cohesion and improvisational fire as they draw upon some of the leader?s best-loved repertoire, including Chick Corea?s "Like This," Pat Metheny?s "James" and Thelonious Monk?s "Bemsha Swing," as well as barnstorming post-bop classics such as John Coltrane?s "Mr. P.C.", Joe Henderson?s "Inner Urge" and Charlie Parker?s "Segment." The harmonic sophistication and melodic clarity of Rodriguez?s piano, the linear propulsion and drive of Shaw?s horn, the depth and solidity of Sullivan?s bass, the wholly unpredictable nuances of Haynes?s drumming?all add up to a thrilling and memorable hour-plus, highlighting the Fountain of Youth quartet at its revelatory best.
Roy Haynes first came on the scene at a pivotal time in jazz history, when the Swing Era was drawing to a close and bebop was still being born. "I?m one of the last innovators from the ?40s who?s still out there saying something new," Haynes has said. Over the decades he has performed and recorded with everyone from Charlie Parker to Pat Metheny, from Lester Young and Sarah Vaughan to Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Chick Corea and Branford Marsalis. Recently, he has even performed with the current incarnation of the Allman Brothers Band?at their annual Beacon Theatre run in New York City in March; and at the Jones Beach Music Theater on Long Island in June.
Not only has Haynes seen the full sweep of jazz history, he?s played a huge role in shaping it. And he continues to do so, not least of all by nurturing so many of today?s most promising young musicians. Alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw holds a masters degree from Manhattan School of Music and has performed around the world with the likes of Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Jeremy Pelt, the Either/Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band and more. Shaw?s debut recording as a leader, "Perspective," was named one of the top five debut releases of 2005 by All About Jazz-New York.
Pianist Robert Rodriguez is the older brother of trumpeter Michael Rodriguez, known for his recent work with bass legend Charlie Haden. The brothers can be heard together on their co-led debut release, "Introducing the Rodriguez Brothers." Robert has also collaborated with such giants as Arturo Sandoval and the recently departed Ray Barretto.
Bassist John Sullivan has become one of New York's most in-demand players since arriving in the city in 1999. He has worked with Joe Lovano, Mike Mainieri, Joanne Brackeen, John McNeil, Aaron Parks, Pete Zimmer and many others. He also works with his father, guitarist Dave Sullivan, in the Sullivan Trio.