"Louis HAYES"

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b. 31 May 1937, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Hayes began playing drums at an early age and was leading his own band in Detroit when he was in his mid-teenage years. Still in his teens, he moved to New York where he joined the Horace Silver Quintet. He was with Silver for over two years, finding time to record with John Coltrane and other leading jazz artists. Towards the end of the 50s he joined Cannonball Adderley ,with whom he remained until the middle of the next decade when he became a member of Oscar Peterson ,'s trio. After leaving Peterson, Hayes led his own bands, usually sextets, during the late 60s and early 70s, working with artists such as Freddie Hubbard ,Kenny Barron , Junior Cook and Woody Shaw . With these bands Hayes toured the USA and Europe and made records. Later, he brought Joe Farrell into his band, by this time a quartet, for more successful tours and records. In the mid-80s Hayes was occasionally a member of the McCoy Tyner trio. An exceptionally gifted bop drummer, Hayes has developed a playing style which is simultaneously subtle and hard driving. His sizzling accompaniment has enhanced some fine hard bop albums and his enthusiasm regularly brings out the best in his front line companions

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