ROY HAYNES - Quiet Fire (2004) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

A Roy Haynes CD that incorporates funk, soul, rock, and pop elements and includes electric keyboards and electric bass? In the generally conservative jazz climate of the 21st century -- a time when Wynton Marsalis and his equally rigid associates enjoy way too much influence -- the assumption is that a CD by someone of Haynes' caliber shouldn't be anything less than 100 percent purist in its outlook. But Haynes, truth be told, has long been versatile -- his resumé includes everyone from Pat Metheny to Lester "The Pres" Young -- and Quiet Fire reflects the veteran drummer's admirable diversity. Quiet Fire reissues two Galaxy LPs (1977's Thank You Thank You and 1978's Vistalite) back to back on a 77-minute CD. Haynes was in his early fifties when the albums were recorded, and he was obviously open to trying a variety of things. Parts of Quiet Fire are essentially straight-ahead post-bop, including Stanley Cowell's reflective "Sweet Song" and a hard-swinging version of Bronislaw Kaper's "Invitation." But a poppier, more R&B-influenced Haynes asserts himself on funky offerings like "Venus Eyes" and "Water Children" -- a Haynes who gives the impression that he's hip to Grover Washington, Jr., the Crusaders, Tom Scott, Charles Earland, Ronnie Laws, and other jazz-funksters of the '70s. At their best, all of those artists exemplified tasteful commercialism back then -- and Haynes brings a similar mentality to the more commercial parts of Quiet Fire. Haynes was definitely reaching out to soul, rock, and pop audiences at the time, but he did it with integrity; he never stooped to playing the sort of abysmal, mind-numbing elevator music that dominates today's NAC/smooth jazz formats. This CD is mildly uneven -- some of the tunes are more memorable than others -- but all things considered, Quiet Fire paints an attractive picture of Haynes in 1977 and 1978. by Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :   
1     Thank You Thank You 6:55
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Roy Haynes
Electric Piano – George Cables
Tenor Saxophone – John Klemmer
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Bobby Hutcherson
Written-By – George Cables
2     Bullfight 11:13
Bass – Cecil McBee
Drums – Haynes
Electric Piano – Stanley Cowell
Guitar – Marcus Fiorillo
Percussion – Kenneth Nash
Piano – Milcho Leviev
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Hutcherson
Written-By – Roy Haynes
3     Quiet Fire 8:13
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Percussion – Nash
Piano – Cables
Written-By – George Cables
4     Processional 5:24
Drums – Haynes
Percussion – Nash
Written-By – Nash, Haynes
5     Sweet Song 6:21
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Piano – Cowell
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Hutcherson
Written-By – Stanley Cowell
6     Vistalite 5:55
Drums, Bell Tree – Haynes
Electric Bass – Dave Jackson
Electric Piano – Cowell
Flute – Ricardo Strobert
Guitar – Fiorillo
Percussion – Nash
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Written-By – Haynes
7     More Pain Than Purpose 5:43
Drums, Bell Tree – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Flute – Strobert
Guitar – Fiorillo
Piano – Cowell
Tenor Saxophone – Henderson
Written By – Scott / Cowell
8     Wonderin' 4:06
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Electric Piano – Cables, Cowell
Guitar – Fiorillo
Percussion – Nash
Written-By – Cecil McBee
9     Venus Eyes 4:41
Alto Saxophone – Strobert
Drums – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Electric Piano – Cowell
Guitar – Fiorillo
Tambourine – Nash
Written-By – John Stubblefield        
10     Rok Out 6:30
Alto Saxophone – Strobert
Cowbell – Nash
Drums – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Guitar – Fiorillo
Tenor Saxophone – Henderson
Written-By – Marcus Fiorillo
11     Water Children 6:44
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Electric Piano – Leviev
Guitar – Fiorillo
Percussion – Nash
Piano – Cables
Written-By – Kenneth Nash
12     Invitation 6:05
Drums – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Piano – Cowell
Tenor Saxophone – Henderson
Written-By – Bronislau Kaper