Recording: Myk Freedman and Friends

Artist: Myk Freedman and Friends

Song: Justin Haynes

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (Service for Justin Haynes), April 19, 2019.

Myk Freedman and Friends - Justin Haynes

Some things are hard. In the aftermath of a sudden loss, family, friends and collaborators joined together to celebrate the life and music of Justin Haynes. Famously banned from The Tranzac, the sad smiles at the fact of his return were indicative of the vibe: shock and sadness with a grimly-funny streak. Hopefully being together helped some people move forward in processing this tragedy, and hopefully Justin's music and spirit will be remembered and celebrated. Over the course of the afternoon and evening, many of his fellow-travelers paid tribute by revisiting Justin's material or offering some new tributes. Here's a few of the sounds from the day.

Among the many projects Jean Martin and Ryan Driver shared with Justin Haynes, they recorded a couple albums and toured as Freedman, playing Myk Freedman's compositions. In return, a couple years later in 2012, Freedman wrote this piece in tribute. The performance notes for this piece are "driving, inspiring, intense", encapsulating Haynes' spirit. Joined by Karen Ng, Mike Overton and Jake Oelrichs, they put those instructions into action in a joyous blast.