Grammy award winning percussionist and producer, Jeff Haynes has toured with everyone from the Pat Metheny Group, Al Jarreau and Lizz Wright to Harry Belafonte and Peabo Bryson and his chops can be heard on nearly 200 CDs. His creative direction as a producer on his recent release of PETE SEEGER THE STORM KING, Pete Seeger spoken word set to multi-genre music from over 50 musicians, has been recognized with acclaim from Publishers Weekly, Amazon, AudioFile Magazine and Library Journal. Also with the highest honor of being nominated for a GRAMMY® Award and won the 2014 Audiobook Publishers Association's Audie Award for Distinguished Achievement in Production.
As Jeff continues to evolve, it is clearly Jeff’s seasoned track record as a touring and recording percussionist that has set the stage for the career that he is carving out as a producer and teacher. Jeff toured and recorded with Blue Note recording artist Cassandra Wilson for nearly 20 years. One need only Google Jeff’s name to pull up videos of Jeff performing with Cassandra to see why she says, "he brings fire and heart to my music.”
The Los Angeles Times raves about his "nonpareil solo and ensemble work.” Haynes brings a sound to today’s music scene that takes percussion beyond “technique” and “tradition”.
In recorded and stage performances, he moves effortlessly from varied and subtle textures... to grooving in the pocket... to anchoring the rhythm section. This is what made Jeff the clear choice for concert producer Danny Kapilian and music director Brian Blade’s all-star band for two tributes for the legendary Joni Mitchell, in 2011 and 2013, performing with Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Lizz Wright, Esperanza Spalding, Cassandra Wilson, Chaka Khan, Aimee Mann and Glen Hansard.
