Last time I celebrated the mighty Max Roach (check out the glory, here) there was not a ton of material on YouTube. A couple of years later and all kinds of goodies are uploaded.
Hear me now and believe me later, you need some Max Roach in your life.
Arguably the best drummer in terms of stamina, versatility and mind-bending dexterity, he also was a brilliant composer.
Check out a sampler here that illustrates a little bit of what he was capable of doing. And he did it longer and better than anyone else ever did.
Whether or not you believe in a supreme power you can –and you must– believe in Max.
“You Stepped Out of a Dream” (with the two young supernovas Eric Dolphy and Booker Little, as well as Ray Draper on tuba (!!)):
“Garvey’s Ghost” (more Dolphy and Little, as well as a star-turn from vocalist–and then-wife–Abbey Lincoln):
“Pay Not Play Not” (with the legendary Hasaan):
“We Speak” (with Booker Little, from one of the all-time hard bop masterpieces, Out Front):
“Epistrophy” (an all-percussion version of Monk’s tune, with his band M’Boom):
Bonus: Max doing more with one hi-hat than most mortals can do with two kits:
As if more proof was needed, remember: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES!!!
