Louis Hayes and the Jazz Communicators

Wed, May 21

*PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows $25 | $30 | $40 | $45 - Wed & Thu $35 | $40 | $50 | $55 -Fri & Sun $35 | $50 | $60 | $65 - Sat “[Hayes] has spent over 70 years keeping time with some of the most soulful artists in the music’s history.” – National Public Radio Abraham Burton – tenor saxophone Steve Nelson – vibraphone David Hazeltine – piano Gerald Cannon – bass Louis Hayes – drums NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes, a legendary drummer who has been at the heart of the jazz world for over five decades, reunites an all-star lineup of his historic ensemble, The Jazz Communicators. This powerhouse group features saxophonist Abraham Burton, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist David Hazeltine, and bassist Gerald Cannon. In the 1950s and ’60s, Hayes was the rising star drummer in the iconic bands of Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, and Oscar Peterson. His extensive career has seen him work and record alongside other jazz legends, including Horace Silver, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley, Grant Green, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, and John Coltrane. With an impeccable sense of feel and a propulsive swing, Hayes has played a pivotal role in shaping the art of jazz drumming. The Guardian praises Hayes for his “unmistakable style: excitement tempered by poise,” while All About Jazz notes, “Today, Louis is one of the last men drumming from jazz’s galloping hard-bop era. Best of all, he hasn’t lost an ounce of energy or style.”