A Force On The Jazz Scene, Saxophonist Bradford Hayes Takes The Stage Thursday For Branford Jazz Series

Compiled By Victor Amatori, Branford Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services

BRANFORD, CT — A force on the jazz scene in the northeastern United States for many years, saxophonist Bradford Hayes has performed in many historical musical venues. On Thursday, Bradford takes center stage on the Town Green as part of the 2025 Branford Jazz Concert Series, starting at 6:30 p.m.

A successful music educator in Newark, New Jersey public schools system for over 30 years, he has entertained at a number of clubs, colleges and concert halls that include Birdland and the Beacon Theater in New York City and L'Entrepot in Paris.

Bradford has performed in different musical settings with Gerald Alston, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, Al Grey, Cecil Payne, Rufus Reid, Ray Bryant, Ted Curson, Charles Davis, Joe Lee Wilson, Ben Riley, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Cecil Brooks III, Steve Colson, Kelvin Bell, Pheeroan Aklaff, Michael Cochrane, James Weidman, Jerry Butler and The Dells, Nabaté Isles and Donald Braden to name a few.

His band has shared the stage with the bands of 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 worked with Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums of Passion Band for 15 years, serving as its Musical Director for the last three years until Mr. Olatunji’s passing. One of his personal highlights is when he performed with Babatunde at Yankee Stadium during Nelson Mandela’s 1st historical trip to the United States after his release from a South African prison.

Bradford along with Javon Jackson, Hilton Ruiz, John Lee, and Bill Saxton was photographed by legendary jazz photographer William Gottlieb in what sadly turned out to be the last jazz photo taken by Mr. Gottlieb. This was the first photo of musicians taken by Mr. Gottlieb since 1948. In addition to this photo session, Bradford and the other musicians were interviewed as part of a PBS documentary about the work of Mr. Gottlieb.

Bradford recently performed a series of concerts in collaboration with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as well as a performance with Avant Garde Pianist Steve “Adegoke” Colson at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

A native of Dinwiddie Country, Virginia, the saxophonist holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. He has also studied privately with George Coleman and Charles Davis. In addition to all of this, Bradford is a Prince Hall Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

"This is our first appearance at the Branford Jazz Series, and we are pretty psyched to have the opportunity to perform there this year," Hayes said.