Blue Hayes: An analysis of the performance style of jazz saxophonist Tubby Hayes

Abstract

This project is a descriptive analysis of the Jazz Saxophone performance style of mid 20^th century British jazz saxophonist Tubby (Edward Brian) Hayes (1935–1973). Hayes represents the finest of European jazz saxophonists during the late 1950s and 1960s. He was the first British jazz saxophonist with ability equal to his American contemporaries, and he helped lay the foundation on which the strength of jazz in Europe during the latter part of the 20^th century was built. This analysis focuses on the performance of Tubby Hayes during two consecutive 1961 recording sessions that took place in New York City during his first trip to the United States. At this time, Hayes was in top form as a jazz saxophonist, and performing with an American rhythm section more accustomed to accompanying virtuosic saxophonists than rhythm sections found in the United Kingdom. Hayes's brilliant performance, strong contributions from trumpeter Clark Terry, pianist Horace Parlan, bassist George Duvivier, drummer Dave Bailey and vibraphonist Eddie Costa as well as excellent production quality resulted in an album that is one of the strongest jazz recordings from the period, Tubbs in New York, re-released in 1990 under the new title Tubby Hayes with Clark Terry: The New York Sessions. This analysis is based on and includes complete transcriptions of four contrasting tracks, "You for Me," "Airegin," "Pint of Bitter" and "Soon."