ROY HAYNES
The Roy Haynes Trio Featuring Danilo Perez and John Patitucci
Verve
314 543 534-2

Just one look at the personnel should be enough to assure a pretty damn high level of musical quality. Roy Haynes is a living treasure who has played drums alongside more jazz legends than I can name in a single breath (and I’m not in bad shape!): Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, and Bill Evans. Though not as musically adventurous as Max Roach, Haynes’ distinctive drumming style has evolved over the years, and he has remained a paragon of good taste by never giving in to cheap trends or selling himself (or his legacy) short. Haynes, like Roach and Art Blakey, tends to populate his bands with promising young players, though he is not averse to participation in the occasional all-star aggregation (e.g., Pat Metheny’s 1989 / 90 trio with Haynes and Dave Holland). This particular trio is occupies a middle ground between all-star and promising young.

All of the players here, Haynes included, have significant connections to Chick Corea. This is worth mentioning because this recording is rather like some of Corea’s less exploratory piano trio recordings, such as the Trio Music sessions recorded for ECM in the early 1980s with Haynes and Miroslav Vitous. Bassist Patitucci was a member of Corea’s various electric and acoustic groups for over a decade. Danilo Perez, the liner notes inform us, was inspired to switch from classical music to jazz after seeing Corea in concert. Corea’s influence is certainly easy to pick out in Perez’ improvising, especially when he does those rapid two-handed harmonized runs. Fortunately, Perez has the sense and good taste not to pick up on some of the less appealing aspects of Corea’s playing.

Despite the fact that Patitucci and Perez are the sort of players who can easily dominate a recording, this is very much Roy Haynes’ session. The first six tracks were recorded in the studio and are shorter than the final four tracks, which were recorded live at Scullers in Boston. Not surprisingly, the live recordings are by far the more spontaneous and interesting. The tunes themselves are standards and covers, all associated with various high points in Haynes’ career. This is an interesting concept, and everyone does their utmost to make it work. Pat Metheny’s "Question and Answer" is given a rather pleasant makeover, with choppy, Latin-ish rhythms in place of the gently flowing 6/4 of the original. The trio’s somewhat muted, moody take of "Dear Old Stockholm" has some of the relentless forward motion of the version Haynes recorded with John Coltrane in 1963. Patitucci shines here, as he does on the ballad, "It’s Easy to Remember," where his soloing has a guitar-like quality.

The difference between the studio and live performances is apparent from the first few bars of "Sippin’ at Bells." The trio’s joy is palpable as Perez and Patitucci negotiate the very tricky head flawlessly, in unison. Haynes and Patitucci then trade choruses with no backing, like 2 human timepieces beautifully synchronized. After a few bars of 6/4, the bassist and drummer settle into a rapid 4/4 walk as Perez takes a glittering, multifaceted solo. Sped-up "Misterioso" quotes return the trio to the head. An energetic, mambo-fied version of a rarely-heard Monk tune, "Bright Mississippi" follows. Perez really shines here, and Haynes’ solo over fragments of the melody is devilishly creative. Ellington’s lovely ballad, "Prelude to a Kiss," is given a relaxed, reflective and conversational reading. The final cut, however, is the real tour de force. "Green Chimneys" starts with another impeccably constructed drum solo. After the trio introduces the theme, Patitucci and then Perez each solos with quietly improvised backing from the other two. There are some really amazing moments on this track. No one overplays, each leaves plenty of space for the other two, rhythms are played with rather than played, accents played in unison appear out of nowhere.

Although the studio recordings have some inspired moments, the wonderful natural chemistry between Haynes, Perez and Patitucci is far more evident in the live performances.

Dave Wayne

Track Listing: 1. Wail; 2. Question and Answer; 3. Shulie a Bop; 4. Dear Old Stockholm; 5. It’s Easy to Remember; 6. Folk Song; 7. Sippin’ at Bells; 8. Bright Mississippi; 9. Prelude to a Kiss; 10. Green Chimneys

Personnel: Roy Haynes, drums; Danilo Perez, piano; John Patitucci, bass