Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua

• Kevin-Charles Haynes｜Saxophonist Bandleader
• Bill Bland｜Percussionist
• Ronald Thomas｜Percussionist
• Dave Pattman｜Percussionist
• Jack Lecomber｜Double Bass
• Tom Ignacio｜Piano
• Laura Klain｜Drums

Hailing from London, saxophonist, percussionist and composer Kevin Haynes leads Grupo Elegua, an ensemble rooted in African Jazz. Drawing on West African Yoruba musical traditions, Afro-Cuban rhythms, Bata drumming and African folk music, the group brings these influences into dialogue with modern jazz traditions including Hard Bop and Modal Jazz. The result is a distinctive sound shaped by powerful grooves, adventurous improvisation and a deep connection to its cultural roots.

Active on the British jazz scene since the 1980s, Haynes has worked with leading figures including Courtney Pine and Steve Williamson. In 2011, he was invited by Cuban jazz legend Chucho Valdés to perform at the Havana Jazz Festival. Known for his distinctive saxophone sound and deep engagement with African musical traditions, Haynes has also been described as an “African Charlie Parker.”

Grupo Elegua has appeared at major festivals and venues including the London Jazz Festival, Salamanca Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall and Jazz Café. The group also contributed to British drummer Moses Boyd’s acclaimed project Displaced Diaspora and, more recently, has collaborated with British music icon Paul Weller. In 2026, Grupo Elegua continues to present new music while returning to the stage at Ronnie Scott’s.

For their appearance in Taichung, Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua brings together the musical traditions of West Africa, Afro-Cuban rhythms and contemporary jazz improvisation in a performance charged with rhythmic intensity and cultural dialogue. Rooted in tradition yet open to exploration, their music reflects the journeys, connections and exchanges that have long shaped jazz across cultures and continents.