Max Roach, 1924-2007

Max Roach, someone whom I've had the good fortune of hearing live many times, is dead. In the NYT:

Max Roach, a founder of modern jazz who rewrote the rules of drumming in the 1940’s and spent the rest of his career breaking musical barriers and defying listeners’ expectations, died Wednesday night at his home in New York. He was 83.

His death was announced today by a spokesman for Blue Note records, on which he frequently appeared. No cause was given. Mr. Roach had been known to be ill for several years.

As a young man, Mr. Roach, a percussion virtuoso capable of playing at the most brutal tempos with subtlety as well as power, was among a small circle of adventurous musicians who brought about wholesale changes in jazz. He remained adventurous to the end.

Darcy of Secret Society, who regularly teaches me a lot about jazz, has promised more on Roach; so look for it.

Comments

[Jaime]

I was a fan of Mr. Roach for many years. Sometimes his drumming seemed off-beat and way out there, other times it was bang on and steady like clockwork. All night.

He could be tasteful and abrasive, and even moody at times. But he was a brilliant musician who pushed boundaries always, even when we wanted to just see the legend swish away on his cymbals and crack that snare all night.

Challenge was his forte, and that duo with him and Archie Shepp was wonderful.

He's joined that superstar orchestra (and buddies) in the sky now, jamming with Mingus, Bird, Powell, Hodges and all the others who left an indelible mark on Jazz.

[Robin]

There was a semester in the late 1980s at UMass, where both Roach and Shepp taught, during which they would have weekly afternoon sessions in the Hatch, one of the university bars. There were never really more than 8 of us in the audience. The happy hour beers were $1.50 or so. A half a dozen private concerts by Roach and Shepp--my introduction to jazz. Enviable, no?

[DJA]

Enviable, no?

You have no idea.

Here is my tribute to Max.