Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua

Kevin Haynes is an alto saxophonist, percussionist, composer and African folklore singer nicknamed the African Charlie Parker because the old sound he gets out of the horn.

Hailing from the Sovereign State of Benin in West Africa, though having spent most of his life in West London, Kevin began his musical career in the 80’s and 90’s performing mainly as a percussionist with acts such as the Jazz Warriors Big Band, saxophonist Steve Williamson Band, flautist Phil Bent Band, Afro American jazz drummer, the great Clifford Javis’ Prophets of Jazz, The Coutney Pine Band and The Dick Heckstall-Smith Band.

The experience performing with such talented musicians in that period had a profound effect on Kevin’s ideas and his approach to music and he started focusing on writing his own unique style of music. He started playing alto sax a lot and studying more African folklore music and drumming styles. Trips to the US, Africa and Cuba followed. Back from his travels Kevin went to the studios to record his debut album with a small French label called Native Music who went to see Kevin perform his new music and band Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua at the London Jazz Cafe, after the show the label were keen to record his band and the journey started from there. 

In 1997 Kevin recorded his debut album ‘Tomorrow’s Path' with guest artist Clifford Javis, a young Robert Michelle on Piano, with guest pianist Alex Wilson, Larry Bartley on Double Bass and Nico Gomez on Bass and two percussionists Lenny Lawrence and Trevor Kentish. 

In 2002 Kevin Recorded ‘Ori Ire’ on his own label Egbe Oduniyi Productions. Musicians on this album are Kevin Haynes saxophone, bata drums, vocals; narration by Niles Halistones; Roland Thomas bata and vocals; Bill Bland bata drums and vocals; Donald Gamble bata drums and vocals; Benet Mclean Piano; Neville Malcolm Double Bass; David Givionnini drums and vocals. 

Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua would tour the UK and perform at various establishments including London's Jazz Cafe, 606 Jazz Club, Rich Mix, Portobello Jazz festival and other London local Jazz events. In 2008 Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua recorded their third album ‘Ajo Se Po' on his own label Egbe Oduniyi Productions. Musicians on the album are Kevin Haynes saxophone, bata drums, vocals; Jonathan Igibonya piano; Daibel Cissokho kora and vocals; Neville Malcolm bass; Shane Forbs drums; Lanre Okemuyiwa narration; backing vocals Ilam Jalal; backing vocals Paula Allen.

In 2011 Kevin Haynes was invited to perform at the Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba by the great Cuban Jazz pianist Chucho Valdes. Kevin performed with a young group of talented Cuban jazz musicians to re-create the music of Grupo Elegua. The Cuban audience and the Jazz community were full of compliments and Kevin was nicknamed the African Charlie Parker because the old sound he gets out of the horn. 

Since 2014 Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua have performed continually at events such as the London Jazz festival, Rich Mix, Spain's Salamanca Jazz Fesitval, Havana Jazz festival in Cuba, Portobello Jazz festival, Brighton Dome Jazz Re:freshed, Mau Mau Bar Jazz nights, 600 Club London, and Ronnie Scott's performing with the Moses Boyd Band promoting his album ‘Displaced Diaspora’. Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua have also performed at London's Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room and in West Africa in Senegal's capital city Dakar with Jabel Cissokho as a guest artist. In 2022 Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua returned to Ronnie Scott’s for a legendary sold out show, followed by a performance at the Acklam Village in West London’s Portobello Road with special guest British legend Paul Weller.

In 2023 the latest release from Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua is the EP ‘Egbe Alaragbo’ and Kevin has gone on to perform with other artists such as Colombia’s Newen Afrobeat at London’s Jazz Café.