Graham Haynes

Graham Haynes (born September 16, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York raised in Hollis , Queens , NY) is an American cornetist, and composer. His two years at Queens

College (1978-1980) studying composition, harmony and theory spurred his interest in classical and electronic music (Robert Moog was professor of electronic music at the time). Haynes became a disciplined student , studying trumpet and jazz harmony privately with Gillespie alumnus Dave Burns while playing in the Pentecostal church. The son of jazz drummer Roy Haynes,[1]Graham is known for his work in nu jazz, fusing jazz with elements of hip hop and electronic music.

With aspirations to push jazz beyond its traditional boundaries, Graham Haynes’ first foray into electronic music came in 1979 upon meeting alto saxophonist Steve Coleman. Together, they formed a band called Five Elements, which launched an influential group of improvisers called M-BaseCollective. After the formation of his own ensemble – Graham Haynes and No Image – and the subsequent release of an album (What Time It Be?),Haynes would spend the balance of the 1980s studying a wide range of African, Arabic and South Asian Music. After a move to Paris in 1990, Haynes incorporated these far-off influences into his next two releases –Nocturne Parisian and Griot’s Footsteps.

Haynes returned to New York City in 1993 to take advantage of the flourishing Hip-Hop scene; and the resulting album was the sample heavy Transition. After the release of yet another hybridized album – 1996’s Tones For The 21st Century– Haynes discovered drum ‘n’ bass and began working with some of the genres finest DJs and producers in London and the U.S. This manifested in the release of 2000s BPM, a fusion of drum n’ bass beats with the classical music of Richard Wagner.

Over the years, Haynes has kept busy with several critically acclaimed multimedia projects, composed the score for films Flag Wars and The Promise, and lectured at New York University, while receiving two nominations for the prestigious Alpert Award For The Arts. He has collaborated with artists such as Roy Haynes, Cassandra Wilson, Vernon Reid, Meshell Ndegeocello, The Roots, David Murray, George Adams, Ed Blackwell, Bill Laswell, Steve Williamson, and Bill Dixon.

Since 2013 Haynes has been a member of the Vijay Iyer Sextet. He is most recently featured on Vijay Iyer‘s 2017 ECM album, Far From Over. Graham tours annually in Europe, Asia, Brazil and Africa and has appeared several times on national tv. He is in high professional demand as a musical director and composer for film, theatre, dance and multimedia .
 

 2003  Lecture at New York University on the subject of Music and Trance .
 2009 Master Class New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music

2010 Adjunct professor The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music .
 2013 Guest lecturer Columbia University on composition.
 

2013 Workshop Città Biella , Italy

2013 Masters classes and lectured Banff Creative Centre ,Banff, Alberta,Canada

2014 Guest lecturer at University of Bahia , Brazil

2017 Premiere, String Quartet no.1 and Prelude and Fugue for 5 Flutes, performed at Roulette NYC for the Interpretations series.

2018 Master classes, lecturerer and guest conductor Banff Creative Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada

2022 Awarded grant from Creative Capital to compose Requiem for Black Male Victims Assassinated by Police in America

Over a period of several years starting the mid 1990’s, Haynes performed with the late Lawrence D. Butch Morris, inventor of Conduction.  Using Morris’ Conduction method, Haynes has begun conducting ensembles internationally. Conduction ensembles include the Nublu Orchestra, Banff Student Orchestra, Haynes Flute Ensemble and The Pelo Mundo Orchestra in Brazil.

2024  March/April Artist Residency with FourOneOne including master classes, conversations, listening parties and performances featuring: Robin DG Kelley, Adam Rudolph, Momenta Quartet, Vijay Iyer and NuBlu Orchestra Conducted by Graham Haynes.