Jeff Haas: The age of confluence

There’s no shortcut to the mountaintop where Traverse City-based pianist and composer Jeff Haas finds himself these days.

At 76, Haas is seeing his life’s work and fondest dreams come to fruition in a grand confluence he always hoped for but never dared to expect.

Haas has always believed that music can make a difference in the world. Each member of the top-flight quintet he’ll bring to JazzFest on Friday shares that vision.

“They’re musicians and social workers, people who lead with their hearts and use the music to send a message of love and understanding,” Haas said.

Make no mistake. You don’t need to cut a millimeter of musical slack for legendary Detroit bassist Marion Hayden, coruscating Michigan State University trumpeter Anthony Stanco, veteran drummer Sean Dobbins and longtime Haas bandmate Laurie Sears, a saxophonist and flutist, just because they’re Haas-y humanitarians. They’re among the best of the best.

But you can hear the love in Haas’ music, a unique blend of jazz, classical and Jewish influences that reflect his background growing up in Detroit as the son of longtime radio host Karl Haas.

“I grew up with that shit,” Haas said with a laugh. “I grew up with my father saying music can heal the world.”

After more than 50 years of making music, often struggling with self-doubt and the long shadow of his famous, jazz-averse father, Haas is finding his life busier and more meaningful than ever.

The quintet is at its peak, still pulling magic out of their bottomless bags in response to Haas’ incisive, often tricky-to-play compositions.

When he’s not touring with the quintet, Haas books the classical, jazz and world music performers for a world-class, 180-seat jazz venue, The Alluvion, that he helped to build. Haas is one of three partners running the venue, which has become a community hub in Traverse City and draws a diverse array of local artists as well as big stars like Kurt Elling and Danilo Pérez (coming to The Alluvion Sept. 13).

“I’m full of gratitude every day,” Haas said. “It’s been an inspiring, satisfying and fruitful period in my life. There’s so much going on musically, and I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked in my life.”

Most importantly, the project dearest to his heart, Building Bridges with Music, is finally on a firm financial footing.

Under the 30-year-old program’s auspices, Haas and the members of his quintet have visited hundreds of elementary, middle and high schools across Michigan, using the unique give and take of jazz and their personal stories of dealing with bullying, self-doubt and prejudice to show the value of tolerance, love and simply listening to each other.

Now, with the firm support of committed donors, Haas has a staff of “one and a half people.” The workshops are developed in tandem with an expert in early childhood development and a music therapist.

The program’s hand-to-mouth days are over. To Haas’ delight, a legacy committee is in place and is even planning future growth, including an animated video version of the program featuring cute cartoon versions of Haas, Hayden, Stanco and the rest.

“I was flying solo for the first 25 years,” Haas said. “It’s such a godsend to have the support and inspiration of people who believe in this program.”

After a hiatus during the pandemic, the program is moving back into school districts around the state, including Ingham County.

“It doesn’t cost the schools anything,” Haas said. “It’s totally self-funded.”

Haas places the Building Bridges with Music program at the center of his personal and musical philosophy.

“It’s the idea that music can open people’s hearts and minds to a discussion about open-mindedness and respect,” he said.

As a composer, Haas is more comfortable and confident than ever.

“I won’t kid you. When I first started writing in my mid-20s and 30s, I struggled finding my voice,” he admitted.

Haas credits the late, great Detroit jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, a mentor and member of his quintet through the 1990s, with helping him find that voice.

“Whether it’s a Judaic influence, a fusion influence, a funk influence or whatever, it just feels organic,” he said. “My dad always told me to surround myself with great musicians, and I’ve done that all my life. To have great musicians embrace my tunes and make them their own is beyond anything I could imagine.”

No one is more surprised at this grand confluence than Haas himself.

“I didn’t expect to be here at 76, let alone thriving,” he said. “I’m like many people of my generation. I went to Woodstock. I took bad acid. I made some bad decisions along the way, and here I am to talk about them. I’m beyond grateful, man.”