Kevin Hays
Kevin Hays ( born May 1, 1968 in New York City ) is an American musician of modern jazz ( pianist, arranger and composer ).
Life and work
Hays grew up in Greenwich (Connecticut) and learned to play the piano at age six. At 15, he had his first professional appearances, two years later he played with Nick Brignola. After studying at the Manhattan School of Music, he toured the United States, Japan and Europe, including with the Harper Brothers, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson and Eddie Gomez. In 1991 he started for Steeplechase on his debut album Sweet Ear, in which Eddie Henderson, Vincent Herring, James Genus and Joe Chambers participated.
After two more production for the label in 1994, he received a recording contract with Blue Note Records; then appeared on the label three albums, including Seventh Sense (1994) and Andalucia ( 1997) with Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette. 1995 brought him Sonny Rollins in his ensemble; then he went with John Scofield on tour. He also worked with his own trio and in the Bill Stewart Trio. 2006 was a solo album of Kevin Hays for the German label ACT. He is also a member of The Sangha Quartet ', in which he plays with Seamus Blake, Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart. For his album "Fear of Roaming " he added several compositions. Currently ( 2010) he also plays in a trio with Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart.
Hays also worked with Klaus Doldinger, Dominique Eade, Tim Hagans, Antonio Hart, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Donald Harrison, Chris Potter, Al Foster, Art Farmer, Louis Smith, Jim Snidero, Mark Turner, Jeff Williams, Buster Williams and Joshua Redman.
Disco Graphical Notes
- Cross Road ( Steeplechase, 1992)
- Seventh Sense ( Blue Note.1994 )
- Go Round ( Blue Note, 1995)
- Open Range: Piano Works III (ACT, 2006)
- You've Got a Friend ( Jazz Eyes, 2007)
- Modern Music ( Nonesuch, 2011), with Brad Mehldau