Legendary drummer Louis Hayes joins Mike Bruzzese in concert

Mike Bruzzese Quartet featuring Louis Hayes

NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes is a legendary drummer who has been at the heart of the jazz world for over five decades. In the 1950s and ’60s, Hayes was the rising star drummer in the iconic bands of Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, and Oscar Peterson. His extensive career has seen him work and record alongside other jazz legends, including Horace Silver, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley, Grant Green, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, and John Coltrane.

With an impeccable sense of feel and a propulsive swing, Hayes has played a pivotal role in shaping the art of jazz drumming. The Guardian praises Hayes for his “unmistakable style: excitement tempered by poise,” while All About Jazz notes, “Today, Louis is one of the last men drumming from jazz’s galloping hard-bop era. Best of all, he hasn’t lost an ounce of energy or style.” Do not miss your chance to hear the legendary Louis Hayes with Montreal guitarist Mike Bruzzese.

Musicians
Mike Bruzzese – guitar

A Montrealer, born and raised, Mike Bruzzese was surrounded by music at an early age, and began playing guitar at the age of 12. An interest and passion for Jazz Guitar emerged at the age of 17, where he studied the art at Vanier College, studying with Montreal guitarist Nick Di Tomaso and winning the J.L Big Band Scholarship. Mike went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University, studying with Carlos Jiménez and André White. In 2022, he completed his Master’s degree at McGill’s Schulich School of Music, where he continued to refine his craft under the guidance of Michel Lambert.

An active figure in Montreal’s vibrant music scene, Mike performs regularly both as a bandleader and a sought-after sideman. He has also appeared at prominent jazz venues across Canada. His performance and recording credits include collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Ben Solomon, Davis Whitfield, Miki Yamanaka, Emilio Modeste, Adam Arruda, Terry Clarke, André White, Kevin Dean, Ira Coleman, Caity Gyorgy, Laura Anglade, among many others.

Being a regular performer over the years at Upstairs Jazz bar and Grill, Michael Bruzzese led a series of tribute projects to jazz legends such as Sonny Clark, Tadd Dameron, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan and Kenny Dorham. Michael has also led many gigs, playing his own original music, and has composed dozens of his own works over the last few years.

Andres Vial – piano

Photo: Andi State

Andrés Vial is a pianist, multi-instrumentalist, composer from Montreal. He has performed with Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, Billy Harper, Peter Bernstein, David Binney, Ira Coleman, Craig Handy, Ingrid Jensen, Malika Tirolien (Bokanté), Danton Boller (Roy Hargrove Quintet), Kevin Dean, André White, Mike Murley, Kirk MacDonald, Ivan Neville (The Neville Brothers), Russel Hall, Dezron Douglas, Eric McPherson, Rodney Green, Michael Blake, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba, Greg Cohen, Darrell Green, Al McLean, Charles Ellison, Dave Turner, Mike Allen, Kalmunity, Gamelan Giri Kedaton and many others.

Active as a leader and sideman, he has played at over 50 festivals and hundreds of venues around the world. He has released 9 albums as a leader, including the Juno-nominated trio albums “Gang of Three” and “When Is Ancient?”.

In 2023, he became the first Montreal pianist and composer to record for Blue Note Records, appearing on Joe Chambers’ album “Dance Kobina”. Vial played piano on three tracks and contributed two originals to the album, including the title track.

He holds a doctorate (DMUS) in jazz piano performance from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. In addition teaching at McGill, he has given jazz piano masterclasses at Dartmouth College, Vanier College and UQAM. He has contributed articles about jazz and improvisation to Downbeat Magazine and Cumulus Press. He also composes music for film and contemporary dance.

Jonathan Chapman – bass

Award-winning bassist, Jonathan Chapman, stands strong as a multidimensional artist. Functioning as a bassist, composer, and bandleader, Jonathan aims to deliver coherent music that challenges any listener to rewarding depths.

A mix of familiar standards and original compositions that showcase the remarkable talents of each musician. The group features Juno-Award Winner, Allison Au, along with highly sought-after musicians Ewen Farncombe and Norbert Botos.

Currently residing in Toronto, Ontario, Jonathan has become a welcomed asset to the music scene. He has performed with an extensive list of artists including; Dave Liebman, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Kirk MacDonald, Jason Palmer, Darren Barrett, Christine Jensen, Joel Miller, Joe Sullivan, Kevin Dean, and Andre White, among many others. Jonathan graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA (2012-2016) where he studied on a full-tuition scholarship. In 2018, he earned a M.Mus from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University.

Louis Hayes – drums

Louis Sedell Hayes was born May 31, 1937 in Detroit Michigan. He was always surrounded by music, actually first starting with the piano, before his father gave him a set of drums at age 10. A cousin noticed his talent, took him under his wing and made sure that his approach to the instrument would serve him well. And well it did, for after developing his skills in the fertile musical ground of Detroit in the 1950’s with the likes of Yusef Lateef, Kenny Burrell, Doug Watkins and others, Louis found himself at the tender age of 18 in New York as a member of the great Horace Silver Quintet. His first recording with Horace, the classic Six Pieces Of Silver would introduce him to the jazz world as a new force to be acknowledged.

Louis continued to enhance his reputation with Horace from 1956 until 1959 when he joined Cannonball Adderley where he propelled the quintet to joyous musical heights and timeless recordings through 1965. He joined piano master Oscar Peterson from 1965-67 during which time he and bassist Sam Jones became known as the “dynamic duo”, recognized as the most powerful rhythm duo in jazz. Louis would rejoin Oscar in 1971 for a year.

For the next decade or more he became leader or co-leader of a series of electrifying groups which included musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Barron, Junior Cooke, Woody Shaw and Dexter Gordon. Louis also spent several years touring with McCoy Tyner. The Louis Hayes Group with Herald Mabern and Frank Strozier culminated four years of artistry with the album; Variety Is The Spice which received five stars, truly an accomplishment during a period when his style of hard driving, “bebop” was less preferred. In 2002 he formed and led the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band and produced 3 successful CDs: Dreaming of Cannon, Maximum Fire Power, and Louis Hayes and The Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. Band members were Vincent Herring, Jeremy Pelt and bass players Vincent Archer, Richie Goods and Dezron Douglas at various times.

Louis has played and recorded with jazz greats such as John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, J J Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Wes Montgomery, Joe Henderson, Cedar Walton, George Benson as well as Ravi Shankar, John Lee Hooker and others.

Recent engagements of note would include The Kennedy Center for the Arts, The JVC Jazz Festival, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the Chivas Jazz Festival in Brazil.

Friday, October 31, 2025 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm
For reservations, visit: www.upstairsjazz.com or call 514-931-6808

Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill
1254 Rue Mackay