With his steady stream of work stretching back nearly six decades, it's hard to think of a jazz figure drummer Roy Haynes has not played behind. He started out with Lester Young, then switched over to Charlie Parker. After that, he played with Stan Getz and Sarah Vaughan. Then from the '60s through the '80s, successive bandleaders like Gary Burton, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny wanted his rhythmic expertise fueling their groups.
In the '90s, Haynes at long last started leading his own groups. His releases became annual showcases of his latest pick of top-notch players and, perhaps more importantly, his drumming. His latest CD, "Love Letters," brings together the hard-bop drive of his earlier years with the refined harmonies of post-bop.
The CD mixes generations for creative friction. The first quartet puts stalwart Kenny Baron on piano together with thirtysomethings Christian McBride on bass and Joshua Redman on sax. The contrast in approaches works well. The younger pair push the melody while the two older players hold the harmonic and rhythmic reins.