Roy Haynes

Roy Haynes was one of the most important drummers in the evolution of jazz. His crisp, conversational playing style made his rhythms cohere with whomever he joined forces with, often giving the group interplay a personality of its own. He played a major role in multiple important jazz chapters as the years went on, backing Charlie Parker in the bebop years of the early '50s and touring with vocalist Sarah Vaughan before doing dates with John Coltrane in the '60s. There were few important jazz figures Haynes didn't play with, and on top of this, he produced several notable albums as a leader, such as the 1962 Impulse! set Out of the Afternoon. He remained active into the 2010s, releasing new music like 2011's Roy-Alty well into his eighties. Haynes died in 2024, leaving behind an indelible mark on the history of jazz.