Arts Listings

In the 1940s, jazz drummer extraordinaire Roy Haynes worked with Lester Young, Charlie Parker (“My Little Suede Shoes”), Bud Powell (“Dance of the Infidels”) and Miles Davis.  

He spent the 1950s in the company of Sarah Vaughan and Thelonious Monk. The 1960s saw him propelling the free jazz of Eric Dolphy and, while substituting for Elvin Jones in the John Coltrane Quartet, handling the sticks on the 1963 Live at Newport performance of “My Favorite Things,” arguably Trane’s greatest version of that number, not least because of Hayne’s incredibly disciplined freedom and nuanced power.  

Last November, in his 80th year, he brilliantly backed up Alice Coltrane on her final concert tour. You will not want to miss his group Birds of a Feather playing classic Parker material at Yoshi’s in Oakland through Sunday where he continues to outperform drummers one quarter his age.  

For more information, see www.yoshi’s.org.