BRATTLEBORO — The Vermont Jazz Center at the Cotton Mill will present the legendary drummer Louis Hayes in concert with his New York-based quartet on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. Hayes will appear with Jason Curry on alto sax, Sharp Radway on piano, and Alex Claffey on bass.
Hayes was the drumming pulse behind some of jazz's greatest luminaries including John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Oscar Peterson, Horace Silver, and the Cannonball Adderley Quintet. From his mentorship at an early age with Papa Jo Jones throughout his stellar career, there is no drummer on the scene today who can boast such a star-studded résumé. At 75, Hayes continues to lead his own hard-swinging ensembles in which he mentors young jazz artists.
Hayes' sound came to maturity during the height of hardbop in the late 1950s and early 1960s while the sophisticated, lyrical language of bebop was morphing to convey a more earthy message using forms derived from R & B and the church. The music Hayes played in Cannonball Adderley's groups typifies that sound: This Here, Work Song, Mercy Mercy, and others are groove-oriented, soulful tunes that share elements with gospel and the black popular music of the time.
Hayes will be performing with a group that includes Jason Curry on alto saxophone. Curry has performed with the Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, and Cab Calloway Orchestras, Valery Ponomarev, Myron Walden, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Duane Eubanks, Jimmy Smith, Mark Whitfield, Russell Malone, Kenny Washington, Winard Harper, Rufus Reid, The Temptations, Al Green, and the hip-hop group Digital Underground.
The pianist in the group is Sharp Radway. He is a product of the church who continues to serve as minister of music for his home-town congregation. He has worked and/or recorded with Bucky Pizzarelli, Yusef Lateef, Benny Golson, Greg Tardy, Red Holloway, Peewee Ellis, Javon Jackson, Rene McLean, Curtis Fuller, Benny Powell, Fred Wesley, Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Frank Lacy, Diane Schuur, Joe Lee Wilson, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Carla Cook, Kevin Mahogany, Nnenna Freelon, James Spaulding, Vincent Herring, Louis Hayes, Leopoldo Fleming, Candido, Russell Gunn, Ben Dixon, Ted Curson, Nicolas Payton, Duane Eubanks, and Winard Harper to name a few. He has also appeared in film with Mos Def, Beyonce Knowles, and others.
Holding down the acoustic bass is Alex Claffey, who grew up surrounded by music (both his parents are professional musicians). Now completing his studies at the New School, he currently works with such notable jazz artists as Orrin Evans, Duane and Kevin Eubanks, Ralph Peterson, Kenwood Dennard, George Burton and many others.
General admission to the Louis Hayes Quartet is $20, $15 for students with valid ID. Tickets are for sale online at www.vtjazz.org, at In the Moment, downtown Brattleboro, or by calling the VJC ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. This concert is handicapped accessible, but organizers request a call in advance at 802-254-9088 if the elevator will be needed.