Essex County’s Free Music Series - BRADFORD HAYES

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Enjoy Essex County's Free Music Series

BRADFORD HAYES, a native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia has been a force on the jazz scene in the northeastern U.S. for many years now. He has performed at a number of clubs, colleges and concert halls that include Birdland (NYC), Tavern on the Green (NYC), and the Beacon Theater (NYC). Bradford has performed or recorded in different musical settings with Yusef Lateef, Ted Curson, Michael Cochrane, Joe Lee Wilson, Jimmy Heath, Al Grey, Cecil Payne, Rufus Reid, Ray Bryant, Ben Riley, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Cecil Brooks III, Jerry Butler, and The Dells. 

Mr. Hayes has also opened for Chico Freeman, Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, Max Roach, Marlena Shaw, Pieces Of A Dream, and Hilton Ruiz among others. In addition to leading his own band, Bradford spent 15 years with Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums Of Passion Band, serving as Musical Director for the last 3 years, until Mr. Olatunji’s  passing. In fact one of the real personal highpoints of Bradford's career is when he performed with Mr. Olatunji at Yankee Stadium during Nelson Mandela’s 1st historical trip to the United States after his release from a South African prison