Ron Haynes keeping jazz scene vibrant with band Game Changers, will play at Andy's Jazz Club

By ERIC SCHELKOPF
 
As a member of groundbreaking band Liquid Soul, trumpet player Ron Haynes brought new excitement to the Chicago jazz scene.

He continues to do so with his current band, Game Changers, which will perform at 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 at Andy's Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St., Chicago. There is a $15 cover charge.

I had the chance to talk to Haynes about the upcoming show.



Q - How did you go about forming your band Game Changers?
 
After working on the road w/a lot of different bands I decided to put a band together and talked to Norman Palm, my trombone player in the band, and asked him to help. We searched around til we found the right musicians and formed the band.

Q - Why do you think the members work so well together?
 
Some of us worked together in other bands before and the group has a good work ethic and doesn't mind rehearsing to develop.

Q - Has the band lived up to your vision for it?
 
Yes, because when you play arrangements that your working on and you see it coming together, you can see the band developing more and more.

Q - The band released "Game On" a couple of years ago. Are you working on new music?
 
We're in the process of writing new songs and we plan on going into the studio in the beginning of the new year.  We will be performing some of the new music during our live shows to see what works and what doesn't.

Q - What should people expect from the next album?

They should expect more elaborate arrangements and more of the band' sound developing. It's should be on a different level than the first CD.

Q - You have worked with so many people over the years, including the late Bernie Mac. What was that experience like and what did you learn from the experience?
 
Working w/ Bernie Mac I learned that you have to keep pushing forward and keep developing. And when someone in the business tells you 'no', it's not necessarily a bad thing.
 
Hard work and diligence pays off.

Q - You are also a longtime member of Chicago band Liquid Soul. What made you want to join the band and how do you think your music evolved as a member of that band?
 
It was a chance to write new music, and Liquid Soul was on the cutting edge of acid jazz. I was interested in funk and hip hop, and it was a chance to try out new arrangements on that audience.

It was a good opportunity to try out improvisational skills.
 

 I think my improvisation skills developed a lot, and I was able to look at jazz from another angle.

Q - What do you think of the Chicago music scene and how do you think you fit into it?
 
I think the Chicago music scene is always changing and I think this band is coming at things in a fresher manner.

Q - What advice would you give to someone trying to break into the music business?

I would say to develop your skill level...Have your business head on a swivel,  and be prepared to jump on opportunities when they present themselves.