At the very end of 2024 the music world lost two legendary drummers, Roy Haynes and Zakir Hussain. I am fortunate enough to have known, spent time with, and interviewed both men. Roy Haynes was my first and strongest jazz drumming influence and has been ever since I picked up a pair of sticks. I can’t count the number of times I saw him play live and sat with him laughing as I peppered him with questions about his drumming, career, and life. In the 90s, I urged Roy to let he and I write his life story together, he was always too busy playing music and enjoying life to reflect on his own remarkable life, career, and drumming. I learned about tabla player, composer, percussionist, and producer Zakir Hussain much later in my life. I had admired his music and was astounded by the sounds that he coaxed from […]

February 2025 Issue