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NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes certainly personifies the term "living history." Born in Detroit, Hayes packed up his drum set and caught a train east, arriving in New York City in 1956 to join the Horace Silver Quintet. In 1959 he joined the Cannonball Adderley band, finding himself, in his early 20s, at the nerve center of the jazz world. He would visit John Coltrane in his apartment and was to make several justly famous recordings with him. Over the next 60 years Hayes amassed an impressive body of work, playing and recording with Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Sonny Rollins, Woody Shaw and countless others. His latest recording on Savant, Artform Revisited, may fondly recall some of Hayes' old friends, but it also stands on the summit of today's post-bop sessions. Surrounded by his recording band of choice, Hayes' vibrant and colorful drumming supports a carefully chosen set list. Two new compositions by Hayes are featured along with some Charlie Parker tunes, the John Lewis version of "Milestones" and the beautiful but seldom-heard Bobby Troup ballad, "You're Looking at Me." Through it all, Hayes proves himself to not just a great drummer, but also a gifted and charismatic leader, inspiring his players to give their best and delivering performances born of his vast experience and exhibiting the mutual respect of all those concerned.
Louis Hayes