The year 1972 was the beginning of the end for Tubby Hayes. The British multi-instrumentalist, who most often performed on the tenor saxophone, was a jazz giant, despite coming up in the '50s without the benefit of New York, Chicago or Los Angeles woodshedding. Something of a cross between Stan Getz and Hank Mobely on the tenor sax, with Zoot Sims's knack for delivering long ribbons of engaging improvisation, Hayes was tireless. On flute, Hayes was unmistakably beautiful, akin to Frank Wess or Sam Most.
Hayes's gifts on both instruments are evident on the newly released Tubby Hayes: Split Kick, Live in Sweden 1972 (Savage Solwieg). Hayes, who also played the vibes flawlessly, began his career at 15 and died at age 38. By 1972, he had two strikes against him. One was heart disease and the other was his past appetite for heroin, which only aggravated his condition.
With puffed cheeks, a Mod's hairstyle and a romantic love for the music pouring out of his instruments, Hayes had played with Duke Ellington's orchestra, soloed behind Ella Fitzgerald and turned down Art Blakey in 1961 when he was offered a spot in the Jazz Messengers, a move he may have come to regret. Despite his commanding prowess and swing, Hayes's American career as a leader never amounted to much, largely because he was British and didn't quite fit the mold.
Back in London, R&B and rock took off in the '60s, squeezing the life out of Britain's jazz clubs. Depressed over his fate and the shifting music tastes of teens, Hayes turned to drink and then heroin. In 1971, Hayes underwent the first of two heart surgeries. Told to rest, Hayes brushed the warnings aside to get his chops back in shape. In February 1972, he performed at the Chalmers Church at the Institute of Technology in Gothenberg, Sweden. The four songs from that date on the new album are Horace Silver's Split Kick, his own Off the Wagon and the standards Autumn Leaves, with Hayes on flute, and I Thought About You. He was joined by Bengt Halberg (p), Georg Riedel (b) and Egil Johansen (d).
He also was in Sweden in December of '72. Offered $300 to play one evening's engagement at the Guldhatten, a restaurant in Stockholm with a jazz night, Hayes made the trip. The payday was significantly more than he was receiving scuffling in the U.K. Two songs from the gig, with Hayes on flute, appear on the new CD—Someday My Prince Will Come and Trenton Place. Hayes was accompanied by Staffan Abeleen (p), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b) and Alex Riel (d).
The music throughout is rather astonishing. You'd never know he had life-threatening ailments given the intensity of his playing and beautiful articulation on tenor and flute. The album is just further evidence that great jazz musicians lived for the music, health be damned. An extraordinary sacrifice for art and a legacy.
Hayes died in June 1973.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Tubby Hayes: Split Kick, Live in Sweden 1972 here.
JazzWax clip: Here's Hayes on flute playing Trenton Place...
