Roy Haynes, who died, aged 99, last year. We celebrate him today – March 13 – on the occasion of his Centennial.
The Kerouac connection is the possibility that he may, conceivably, (in a photo by jazz photographer, Bob Parent), have been captured in the audience at the legendary concert given, September 13, 1953, by the Thelonious Monk Trio (Monk, Charles Mingus on bass, Roy Haynes on drums – and with the late addition of surprise-guest Charlie Parker on sax – the only time those four ever played together)) which took place on that date (truly, a magic moment in time and space) at New York’s famous Open Door club.
Peter Facini writes about it (the gig and the club) here and about Parent’s photo-shoot.
(scroll down to see the purported Kerouac photo)
Certainly the Beats visited The Open Door club. Allen recalls seeing Charlie Parker there:
” I saw him a number of times, yeah. In those days – meaning the early ’50s and early ’60s – the musicians, though, they were barred from playing in the clubs under the cabaret licensing laws, which were quite fascist. Anybody who had been busted couldn’t play in a cabaret, and if you couldn’t play in a cabaret, you couldn’t make money in New York, simple as that. So they had to play wherever they could – in lofts, in scenes. There was a place on Sunday, The Open Door, some impresario (Robert Reisner – sic) – no alcohol. You’d contribute what you could, and Charlie Parker played. I used to go Saturday or Sunday afternoons..”
Joyce Johnson, in Facini’s article, speculates -“It’s certainly possible…He was in New York at the time the photo was taken.” – She has seen the photograph, and she said it looks enough like him”, Facini reports – “There is no way of knowing for sure”.
– but a brooding 31-year-old Jack, nursing a drink, quietly attending “a 28-year-old hot shot drummer everybody called “Snap Crackle””? – certainly, surely, a moment worth considering?
Facini’s hommage to Haynes for WNYW Jazz Stories, back in 2018:
Roy Haynes’ preternatural life-force and longevity was his calling card.
November of ’24, he, finally, passed away.
Nate Chinen‘s obit note in the New York Times – “among the greatest and most influential drummers in the history of jazz”
More Nate Chinen on Roy Haynes – “Roy Haynes – The Natural”
Ben Ratliff for NPR – “Roy Haynes, pioneering modern jazz drummer has died at 99”
Hard to underestimate Haynes’ integral involvement
from Wikipedia:
“Haynes made his professional debut in 1942 in Boston and began his full-time professional career in 1945. From 1947 to 1949 he worked with saxophonist Lester Young, and from 1949 to 1952 was a member of saxophonist Charlie Parker’s quintet. He also recorded at the time with pianist Bud Powell and saxophonists Wardell Gray and Stan Getz. From 1953 to 1958, he toured with singer Sarah Vaughan and recorded with her… In the 1960s, he was a member of the John Coltrane Quartet, often working as a sub for drummer Elvin Jones….”
and that’s not the half of it.
Here’s a thoughtful and informed Roy Haynes playlist
& Roy Haynes interviews – (well, some of them) 1996 – 1997 2005-7 (four interviews) – and here (2008) – 2008, again, 2011 – 2011 again 2012, 2017 and 2019
And, finally, a couple of choice moments from an extraordinary career:
Jack and Jazz – Jack and Roy, sitting up there safe in heaven