Saxophonist Bradford Hayes has been a force in Jazz for more than 35 years now, while teaching music in the Newark (NJ) Public school system for 31 of those 35 years. Since his retirement in 2014 Bradford has been steadily building up steam in the jazz world. "I given much of my youth to the benefit of others, trying to introduce them to the enjoyment of music". Now it's my time! Hire my band and I and you will not regret it. My featured musicians are Michael Cochrane on piano. Mike is an outstanding musician who also has several recordings under his belt. My bass player is Matthew Parrish who has worked with a whose who of musicians. Of late Mr. Houston Persons. My drummer is as bad as they come. His name is Noel Sagerman! As for myself, my bands and I have performed in different settings with Jimmy Heath, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Cecil Brooks, III, Steve "Adegoke" Colson, Pheeroan Aklaff, Kelvin Bell, Michael Cochrane, Rufus Reid and Don Braden. Also these late greats: Al Grey, Cecil Payne, Ray Bryant, Ted Curson, Yusef Lateef, Charles Davis and Joe Lee Wilson. Bradford also performed with the great African Percussionist Babatunde Olatunji for 15 years until Mr. Olatunji's passing in 2003, serving as Musical Director for the last 3 years of that tenure. And yes all while serving as a public school music teacher. Bradford along with tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, the late great pianist Hilton Ruiz, bassist John Lee and tenor saxophonist Bill Saxton were photographed in a group setting by the great jazz photographer Bill Gottlieb om 2004. This was his first jazz photo taken of musicians since 1948! Unfortunately it would be his last as he passed away the next year.
