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Max Roach, the legendary Jazz drummer, bebop founder, band leader, and civil rights activist, died in his sleep last night in New York City. He was 83 years old.
Along with drummer Kenny Clarke, Roach redefined the role of the drums in Jazz during the bebop revolution of the late-1940s and early-50s, participating in many of the movement’s seminal recordings with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. In the mid-50s, Roach co-led a quintet with Clifford Brown that was one of hard bop’s premiere bands up until the trumpeter’s untimely death in a car accident in 1956.
Roach was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights and racial equality, and in 1960 he created one the great protest records with We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite, a seven-part suite featuring vocalist Abbey Lincoln that addressed slavery and racism in America.
Post by steveternal on Aug 16, 2007 22:00:00 GMT -5
Tragic... he was one of the best. Ever. And, he was the last surviving member of The Quintet. Man, what a shame for us. I hope he's in a better place now.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Aug 16, 2007 23:44:20 GMT -5
This is really a bummer. He (and his incredible friends) was such an inspiration to so many other amazing musicians. The jazz approach to truly "communal" music was one of the most beautiful aspects of modern day music. Everyone was more than willing (Hell, eager even) to put aside personal identity and well-earned egos in order to create real, honest, heartfelt art. Music for one singular purpose: MUSIC! While this approach has been dying (or at least morphing dramatically) for many years, it is at times like these that it becomes more evident than we might like to admit that an era is dying. Sadly, the deaths of legends like Max Roach and Art Davis are only the latest chapters in an unavoidably tragic trend. The real musical innovators, the pre-hippie counter culture, the original "jam" musicians are running out of time. Too many of us are content with just delving "Dead deep" during our musical journeys. I've got nothing negative to say about The Dead, but they are only part of the story. The real story started many years before and has transcended time, cultures, mass-media bullshit, languages, trendy scenes, rockstar egos, pseudo-politics and pretty much every other typical booby trap that has surrounded the music that we have all embraced for most (if not all) of our lives. If you're not familiar with how it all started or if you've never seen a true jazz legend live, fix that or die regreting it. (I missed Ornette at Roo this year and I will, without a doubt, die hating myself for it.) The most radical, innovative and influential era in American music is ending. If that doesn't kill you a little inside, you simply don't get it. It's not too late to fix it.
"Jazz At Massey Hall"! Need I say more? I think not! We'll miss you, Max.
Last Edit: Aug 16, 2007 23:46:52 GMT -5 by oatmealschnappz - Back to Top
^^^I heartily agree with SEJ.....if you haven't experienced a performance from one of the true Jazz or Blues legends, you are missing a rare and dying opportunity that you will never be able to recapture. Jazz and Blues (and Rock n Roll which is but a by-product of R&B) are the only truly American musical forms (and even they have roots in other cultures so it's hard to call them solely American, but it's as close as a <300 year old country has!). I was lucky enough to see BB King perform in his club on Beale St in Memphis and was totally mesmerized at the man's pure charisma and talent. Ditto with Dizzy Gilisipie - wow! Could kick myself for missing an opportunity to see Miles Davis....these performers are artists in a way that most musicians today will never be - not because of lack of talent....but just that the pioneers of an art form are always going to be innovators and trailblazers in a way that no one else following them will ever be able to reproduce......
