Home » Jazz Musicians » Kevin Hays

Kevin Hays

Pianist/Composer Kevin Hays has recorded 10 CDs as a leader and is featured on dozens of recordings with a variety of leading Jazz artists. Included in his leader discography are 3 critically acclaimed recordings for Blue Note Records. His 'Seventh Sense' was praised by The New York Times and recognized as one of the "Top 40 Jazz Releases of the Year" by Musician Magazine.

Kevin has performed and recorded with some of the most prominent and influential musicians in Jazz. These include Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, Benny Golson, Roy Haynes, Chris Potter, Al Foster, Joe Henderson, Buster Williams, Art Farmer and Joshua Redman.

Born May 1st of 1968 in New York City and raised in Connecticut, he began studying piano at the age of 6 and was playing professionally by 15. At 17 he began playing with baritone saxophone great Nick Brignola. After spending a year at The Manhattan School of Music, he began traveling in the U.S., Japan, and Europe with various bands including The Harper Brothers, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson and Eddie Gomez. In 1995 Sonny Rollins invited him to join his group; a year and a half later he began touring with guitarist John Scofield in his celebrated "Quiet" band.

Today, Kevin continues to perform worldwide in Solo concerts, with his Trio which includes bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Bill Stewart, and with The Sangha Quartet which features Seamus Blake, FLY, and Bill Stewart. He also conducts Master Classes in the U.S. and overseas.

Kevin's recent recording activity includes a new Solo Piano CD Open Range on the ACT label; the launching of PinonDisk Records, his own label on which he has released his latest Trio CD What Survives; a new trio project with the groundbreaking web-based company, and two releases under the JazzEyes label: For Heaven's Sake (2006) and the newest and just released You've Got a Friend.

Kevin Hays & Lionel Loueke: Feuilles-O

by Geno Thackara
March 10, 2023

One pianist with a naturally soulful touch (and a fairly rich crooning voice to boot), one guitarist with innate Afro-rhythms running through everything he does; they still make a myriad of tones for just two guys with no special effects. 2019's Hope (Edition Records) had no shortage of highlights, but their take on this sweet/sad Haitian traditional song hits an emotional peak even higher than most. ...

Album Review

Justin Page: Lost and Found

Read "Lost and Found" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
March 30, 2021

All too often in life, people find themselves reminiscing about their past accomplishments, only wishing they could go back in time to pick up where they left off. Unfortunately, many never get the opportunity to try again. New York-based drummer Justin Page, however, is an exception. The album, Lost And Found, is an excellent comeback for this talented artist. Page was something of a child prodigy who became active in the jazz scene from an early age. He ...

Album Review

Kevin Hays, Lionel Loueke: Hope

Read "Hope" reviewed by Emmanuel Di Tommaso

by Emmanuel Di Tommaso
June 9, 2020

Kevin Hays e Lionel Loueke sono ormai da diversi anni considerati due fra i più affermati musicisti della loro generazione, avendo alle spalle numerosi dischi e concerti in collaborazione con artisti del calibro di Brad Mehldau, David Holland, Chris Potter, Bill Stewart, Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter e Charlie Haden, solo per nominarne alcuni fra i più importanti. Pur provenendo da culture e percorsi musicali totalmente differenti (il melting pot della scena jazz newyorchese per ...

Album Review

Kevin Hays, Chiara Izzi: Across the Sea

Read "Across the Sea" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
September 6, 2019

A sei anni dal sorprendente debutto discografico (Motifs, Dot Time 2013) la giovane cantante molisana si presenta con una produzione d'alto livello internazionale, condivisa col pianista Kevin Hays e infarcita d'ospiti prestigiosi. Seguendo il consiglio di Quincy Jones, Chiara Izzi vive da cinque anni a New York, s'è esibita nei migliori locali e ha saputo imporsi in quel clima competitivo, impressionando pubblico e critica. Elogiando quel primo lavoro su questo magazine notavamo margini di maturazione nell'esecuzione delle ...

Album Review

Kevin Hays & Lionel Loueke: Hope

by Geno Thackara
August 23, 2019

It would have been easy to leave well enough alone. Kevin Hays and Lionel Loueke made a delightful recording the first time around—a most happy clash of hemispheres blending urban jazz and world-folk balladry, crossing upbeat piano with lively scat-singing, frisky African rhythm play and much more. Nonetheless, a slot with Edition Records offered them a chance to revisit the work and give it a wider release than its initial 2017 vinyl pressing on the Newvelle Records subscription label. Let's ...

Album Review

Kevin Hays / Lionel Loueke: Hope

by Karl Ackermann
July 21, 2017

New York/Paris-based Newvelle Records, the vinyl-only subscription label, is well into its second season of six planned releases. The second of these albums is the Kevin Hays and Lionel Loueke duo outing, Hope. Pianist Hays plays with his namesake trio as well as the Bill Stewart Trio and has worked with Sonny Rollins, Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, John Scofield, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau and many others. Lionel Loueke is a Benin native who holds a Jazz ...

Album Review

Olivier Le Goas: Reciprocity

Read "Reciprocity" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
August 15, 2016

Matt Cibula, writing for All About Jazz, wondered in his review of French drummer Olivier Le Goas' Gravitation (Altrisuoni, 2007): “Who the heck is Olivier Le Goas...?" indicating perhaps a paucity of information about the leader, even in this day of Internet info overload. Nine years later there still isn't much on-line scoop about the man. So we go with the music. Gravitation, an all-star quartet affair featuring guitarist John Abercrombie, trumpeter Ralph Alessi and bassist Drew Gress, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kevin Hays

Source: Michael Ricci
May 1, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Kevin Hays' birthday today!

Pianist/Composer Kevin Hays has recorded 10 CDs as a leader and is featured on dozens of recordings with a variety of leading Jazz artists. Included in his leader discography are 3 critically acclaimed recordings for Blue Note Records. His \'Seventh Sense\' was praised by The New York Times and recognized as one of the “Top 40 Jazz Releases of the Year" by Musician Magazine... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kevin Hays

Source: Michael Ricci
May 1, 2015

All About Jazz is celebrating Kevin Hays' birthday today! Pianist/Composer Kevin Hays has recorded 10 CDs as a leader and is featured on dozens of recordings with a variety of leading Jazz artists. Included in his leader discography are 3 critically acclaimed recordings for Blue Note Records. His \'Seventh Sense\' was praised by The New York Times and recognized as one of the “Top 40 Jazz Releases of the Year" by Musician Magazine... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kevin Hays

Source: Michael Ricci
May 1, 2014

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kevin Hays

Source: Michael Ricci
May 1, 2013

All About Jazz is celebrating Kevin Hays' birthday today!

Pianist/Composer Kevin Hays has recorded 10 CDs as a leader and is featured on dozens of recordings with a variety of leading Jazz artists. Included in his leader discography are 3 critically acclaimed recordings for Blue Note Records. His \'Seventh Sense\' was praised by The New York Times and recognized as one of the “Top 40 Jazz Releases of the Year" by Musician Magazine... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...
read more

Education

Kevin Hays NYC Workshop on Sunday, August 19th

Source: Damian Sim
August 8, 2012

Master pianist Kevin Hays will be conducting another in a series of workshops for pianists (and other instrumentalists interested in developing their harmony, line playing, improvisation, piano skills, etc.) on Sunday August 19th at the Church St School for Music & Art, NYC from 1-4:00pm. These are small, intimate classes (ten person max) with an opportunity to play, ask questions, problem solve at the piano and discuss whatever issues students wish to bring forward. Topics will include: Harmonic Development on ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kevin Hays

Source: Michael Ricci
May 1, 2012

All About Jazz is celebrating Kevin Hays' birthday today!

Pianist/Composer Kevin Hays has recorded 10 CDs as a leader and is featured on dozens of recordings with a variety of leading Jazz artists. Included in his leader discography are 3 critically acclaimed recordings for Blue Note Records. His \'Seventh Sense\' was praised by The New York Times and recognized as one of the “Top 40 Jazz Releases of the Year" by Musician Magazine... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...
read more

157

Performance / Tour

Nonesuch Releases Collaboration Between Pianists Brad Mehldau and Kevin Hays and Composer/Arranger Patrick Zimmerli, Modern Music, September 20

Source: Michael Ricci
July 19, 2011

Nonesuch Records releases Modern Music, a collaboration between pianists Brad Mehldau and Kevin Hays and composer/arranger Patrick Zimmerli, on September 20, 2011. The album features pieces written by each of the three musicians as well as works by Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, and Philip Glass, performed by the two pianists in arrangements by Zimmerli. Modern Music may be pre-ordered now from www.nonesuch.com, with the title track available for download immediately at checkout. This collaboration grew out of the long-standing desire ...
read more

102

Birthday