Roy Haynes has been a forceful presence in jazz for more than half a century. In the history of jazz drumming, no one fits the legendary status quite like Haynes, a voracious, fearless talent whose dynamic style has endured the many stylistic revolutions in jazz, from swing and bebop to postbop and hard bop to free jazz and beyond. Called "the father of modern drumming" by guitarist Pat Metheny, Haynes has been on the cutting-edge of jazz and helped foster its constant evolution dating all the way back the 1940s. He is the only drummer to have played with Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Astonishingly, in addition to these legends, Haynes' career claims a connection to virtually every jazz master in the history of the music. From bop-era stints with Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell, to postbop forays with Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz, Rahasaan Roland Kirk and Booker Ervin, to free explorations with Eric Dolphy and Lennie Tristano. He pioneered jazz-fusion with Gary Burton, and steered jazz into modernity with Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Kenny Garrett, and Christian McBride. No living musician can boast as wide-ranging, influential, or innovative a career.

"To me living and music are all the same thing. And I keep finding out more about music as I learn more about myself, my environment, about all kinds of different things in life. I play what I live... I can't predict the directions in which my music will go. I just want to write and play my instrument as I feel." --McCoy Tyner

Pianist McCoy Tyner is one of the working legends of his generation, an artist whose long and diverse career spans the heyday of bop, the emergence of Coltrane, and the evolution of the complex structures that are hallmarks of modern jazz. His percussive attack, orchestral voicings, and modal harmonics have influenced several generations of musicians, and his ongoing work exemplifies the life of a creative artist constantly seeking to grow and respond. In the context of this never-ending exploration, Tyner began an annual series of residencies at the famed Oakland club, Yoshi's, back in 1995. Tyner celebrates ten years of a gig that combines workshop and showcase with his usual two-week format: Week One (January 25-30) features the pianist in a trio with past collaborators, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Billy Cobham. Week Two (February 1-6) will feature an all-star quintet of a younger generation, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, bassist Charnett Moffett, and drummer Eric Harland.

Notes Yoshi's Artistic Director Peter Williams, "It's the most creative thing I get to do, pair people with McCoy...As long as he wants to keep doing it, there's no end to the people who would love to play with him and who could make something magical happen musically."