KEVIN HAYNES GROUP ELEGUA
Press Pack | 2026
Contact: for bookings Music Motivation Management
@musicmotivationmanagement
Music Management Company Based in London Est. 2024 https://www.mmm-ltd.co.uk

Website: https://kevinhaynesgrupoelegua.simdif.com/
Social:Instagram@eleguakevin
Tel +447708268580 WhatsApp call and messages
Email [email protected]

Grupo Elegua Records
Moroju Moriye label representative
Email [email protected]

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHT: RONNIE SCOTT'S JAZZ CLUB

Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua performs at the world-famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London's Soho on March 26th, 2026 . This performance will showcase material from Haynes' highly anticipated forthcoming album and marks a significant milestone for the group.

Event Details:
· Date: Thursday, 26th March 2026
· Time: 5:30 PM (Late Late Show)
· Venue: Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, 47 Frith Street, London W1D 4HT
· Ticket Price: £35 – £50
Line-up:

· Kevin Haynes – alto sax, Batá drum, vocals
· Deschannel Gordon– piano, keys
· Ashley Karr – double bass
· Moses Boyd drums
· Ronald Thomas – Batá drum, vocals
· Patrick Cameron – Batá drum, percussion
· Bill Bland – Batá drum, vocals

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Kevin Haynes – alto saxophonist, percussionist, composer, and African folklore singer – is one of the UK jazz scene's most distinctive voices. Hailing from Benin in West Africa and based in West London, Haynes first rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a percussionist with the Jazz Warriors Big Band, Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Clifford Jarvis, and Dick Heckstall-Smith .

Often dubbed "the African Charlie Parker" for his old-school alto sound and technical facility, Haynes is also an ordained Yoruba Ifa priest. His music is a powerful fusion of contemporary jazz with Afro-Cuban and Nigerian Yoruba drumming traditions, African folk and praise songs, hard-bop modal language, and flowing kora lines .

In 1994, Haynes formed Grupo Elegua, named after the Yoruba Orisha of the crossroads, creating a distinctive, personal take on African jazz that moves seamlessly between traditions

DISCOGRAPHY & RELEASES

Current & Forthcoming:

· "Inner Outer Alignment" (Forthcoming
2026) – The new album, titled "Ti abenu ati ti ita titete (Inner Outer Alignment)," will be featured in the Ronnie Scott's performance. Selections previewed at The Camden Club in August 2025 included "New World Order," "Su Bending Wedding Ya," "Sango Oriki," "Dahomey," "Orunmila Oriki," and the title track .

Previous Releases:
Inner Outer Alignment 2026 Independent Label Grupo Elegua Records
· "Egbe Alaragbo" (EP, 2022)
· "Tomorrow's Path" – full-length release with Grupo Elegua
· "Ori Ire" – full-length release with Grupo Elegua

4. BIOGRAPHY (Extended)
Early Career & Collaborations:
Haynes began his musical career in the 1980s and 90s as a percussionist, working with the Jazz Warriors Big Band, Steve Williamson Band, Phil Bent Band, Clifford Jarvis' Prophets of Jazz, The Courtney Pine Band, and The Dick Heckstall-Smith Band .

Musical Style:
Haynes' sound draws on the spiritual traditions of West Africa, incorporating Yoruba religious music with John Coltrane-inspired riffing. His Grupo Elegua features a troupe of Batá drummers performing chants to the Orishas Elegba, Ogun, and Oshosi – the crossroads, warriors, and precision deities. The hypnotic rhythms and fiery solos make each performance a transformative experience .

Current Activity:
Haynes divides his time between the UK and Benin, continuing to develop his unique fusion of contemporary jazz and African-rooted traditions. With over two decades of performance experience, he remains a vital force in the UK jazz scene .

PRESS QUOTES

"The alto saxophonist nicknamed the African Charlie Parker because of the old sound he gets out of the horn." – Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

"The music of alto saxophonist, percussionist, composer, and African folklore singer Kevin Haynes is a powerful fusion of contemporary jazz and African-rooted traditions." – Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

"An evening truly resonating with African rhythms... the audience, a mix of jazz aficionados and curious newcomers, was visibly captivated." – UK Jazz News

KEY PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Date Venue Location
26 March 2026 Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club London, UK
2 August 2025 The Camden Club London, UK

MEDIA IMAGES

[Images available on request – performance photos, press shots]

8. MANAGEMENT & BOOKING

For press enquiries, interviews, or booking requests, please contact:

bookings Music Motivation Management
@musicmotivationmanagement
Music Management Company Based in London Est. 2024 https://www.mmm-ltd.co.uk
Tel +44 7979 288691

PR Press Rupert Burley
Dynamic Agency
M: +44 (0)7769 554 247
W: http://dynamicagency.co.uk

Kevin Haynes Group is available for festival bookings, club dates, and international touring. For all enquiries, please contact management.

Management
@musicmotivationmanagement
Contact Ossie and Kathy
Music Management Company Based in London Est. 2024 https://www.mmm-ltd.co.uk
Tel +44 7979 288691