Roy Haynes

[JAZZ] Roy Haynes is a living legend. The 85-year-old drummer has had a career that looks Forrest Gumpishly ridiculous on paper—he's played with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane…the list goes on. Most impressively, his catalog is full of gems. Haynes has the rare gift of showcasing his own chops—he's capable of playing soulful or mathematical, hot or cool—while at the same time pushing his collaborators to be the best they can be. This week he hits the Schnitz with a handful of other greats (pianist Chick Corea, saxophonist Kenny Garrett and bassist Christian McBride) for a benefit for the OHSU Heart Research Center. I spoke to Haynes via phone from his home on Long Island. "I just got out of the hot tub," he said to open our chat. "I feel like I'm 15 years old."

WW: How do you pick people to play with?

Roy Haynes: Usually they're picking me, man. So many people, after playing with me for a while, they say, "I always wanted to play with you, man." When I play with guys, I don't say too much of "do this, do that"—but one thing I do suggest, I say we all have to listen to each other.

Were you into that far-out stuff when you first started hearing it—like when you played with Eric Dolphy?

Well, when I first met Eric, whom I met in the late '50s when I was still with Sarah Vaughan, he was trying to sound like Charlie Parker. He'd play me these radio tapes of Charlie Parker, man. And then he went to Outward Bound and all that stuff…I was kinda surprised. I said, "What the hell is this?" (Laughs). To myself, of course.

What do you mean by your "concept"?

One time a woman in Chicago said my music reminded her of the four seasons. And I took that as a compliment. Sometimes people say, "What the hell did she mean by that?" But it's summer, fall, winter, spring—it's colors and that whole thing. That happens when I perform. I try to let it be.

What does it feel like up there, for you?

It's as good as eating some good food. I mean good with a capital G. Or some good sex! It's like—ah man, it's the ultimate.

You're as energetic as ever at 85. Is there a secret to that?

I keep hearing that, especially from the ladies. But no. And if it was a secret, I wouldn't tell. There's no one way to think or live. Every day I wake up, I'm thankful. I try to not overdo things. In the late '60s or '70s I had a dentist who said, "Whatever you're doing, Roy, you're overdoing."

Did you avoid the real bad stuff?

Well, I must have avoided some of it, 'cause I'm still here.

I wonder if you remember the first time you heard rock 'n' roll, and what your impressions were.

Well, I heard rock 'n' roll before they called it rock 'n' roll. See, back in the early days things weren't always categorized. It's usually the people who are running the world—who think they are running the world—who name all these things, you know? They took everything and started categorizing—putting this there and that there. Only this person can play that, or that guy plays this kind of music. That's bullshit! (Laughs.) You can play what you want to play when you want to play it—if you're a creator.

Roy Haynes plays with the Freedom Band on Friday, Sept. 17, at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. 8 pm. $44-$88.25. All ages.

WWeek 2015