The band played a set comprised mostly of Thelonious Monk pieces that kept the audience captivated and energized. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost fifty years since Roy’s recordings with Monk as you listen to the powerful rhythms filling the room tonight. At eighty years old, Roy plays with as much energy as most drummers do in their twenties. He just doesn’t let up.
Marcus Strickland has a great ability to float between a more straight ahead style and one that is screaming and more "free." Along with Sullivan and Bejerano, he is definitely one to keep an eye on in the jazz world. One of the highlights of the show was an extended drum and piano intro with Roy using mallets to hold down an underlying structure for Bejerano’s blazing improvisations.
All I can say is that Roy Haynes is a national treasure. He combines humor, intensity, and precision in his playing and continues to lead ensembles with gifted younger musicians as he delivers his message of improvisation and rhythm.
