August 16, 2007

Deeds, Not Words

Drummer Max Roach has passed away. Jazz fans don't need an introduction, but even if your jazz record collection is limited to a few choice highlights, chances are that Roach is playing on some of them—the number and variety of landmark sessions he was a part of boggles the mind. Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton—Roach played with them all. It's probably not an exaggeration to say that Roach changed drumming the way Liszt changed piano playing.

Darcy James Argue has many more links.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You said it, Matthew. Keep up the good work.

Bill Blake

DJA said...

Thanks for the link, Matt.

Max was a great artist and a tremendous personal inspiration. I have my own tribute to him up now.