Gavin Walker
Feb 1, 2008, 02:20 AM
Maxwell Lemuel Roach as everyone should know was not only one of the premier drummers in Modern Jazz but a musical ground breaker like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and others who learned the rules but went beyond them to extend and expand the concepts of Jazz music. Max Roach was born in Newland, North Carolina on January 10,1924 and moved to New York City when he was just four. He died at age 83 in New York on August 16, 2007 from complications due to Alzheimer's Disease and had been inactive for several years. Max Roach was the last of the early Modern Jazz(or Bebop) pioneers.
Mr. Roach, aside from his musical accomplishments and his status as a Jazz musician was a sensitive and well educated man who was proud of his African-American heritage and so it is in honour of Black History Month that The Jazz Show presents one of Roach's most powerful,controversial and political musical statements: "The Freedom Now Suite".
The Civil Rights movement was taking place in the U.S. in the late 1950's, schools, shops, and public places were being desegregated. Blacks wanted equality in America. Sit-in's were taking place in the South, demonstrations were happening thoughout the country and the cry was "Freedom Now!". Max Roach became part of the rallying cry. He made a vow at that time to politicize his music and the Freedom Now Suite was created. Max Roach collaborated with lyricist Oscar Brown Jr. to co-write the Suite. The motivation for Roach and Brown to compose the Suite was the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. This album was the first and strongest document of a whole series of recordings with heavy political and sociological themes which led to Max Roach being blacklisted by the record companies for many years.
The vinyl record came out in late 1960 on the short-lived Candid label and was done in August and September 1960. Max's working band is the center of this date. Along with Roach is trumpeter Booker Little, trombonist Julian Priester and the shamefully overlooked tenor saxophonist, Walter Benton. James Schenk is the big-toned bassist and not to forget the powerful voice of Roach's girlfriend (later to become his wife), the amazing Abbey Lincoln. The great Coleman Hawkins(the father of the tenor saxophone) makes a cameo appearance on the opening composition called 'Driva' Man'(depicting the days of slavery) that blows the roof off the studio. Then the band without Hawkins plays the next piece called 'Freedom Day' on both of these Miss Lincoln sings Oscar Brown's lyrics with strength and emotion. Then the 'Tryptych: Prayer, Protest, Peace' is a duet with just Roach and Miss Lincoln. The power of this is beyond words. The second half of the Suite deals with Africa and added to the band is the legendary African drummer/vocalist Michael Olatunji plus two other percussionists. The final piece is called 'Tears for Johannesburg' and commemorates the horrible Sharpeville massacres that were then recent history.
Max Roach broke new ground with this recording and it still stands to this day as a very moving and gut wrenching musical experience that you will not forget. "We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite" is the Jazz Feature at 11pm.
Also on tap is some music by the Carla Bley Band that we didn't get around to playing last week. We will also hear a long version of Charles Mingus' protest piece 'The Fables of Faubus' from the newly issued Cornell University concert and some other surprises, so join me right from 9pm. See you then.
Mr. Roach, aside from his musical accomplishments and his status as a Jazz musician was a sensitive and well educated man who was proud of his African-American heritage and so it is in honour of Black History Month that The Jazz Show presents one of Roach's most powerful,controversial and political musical statements: "The Freedom Now Suite".
The Civil Rights movement was taking place in the U.S. in the late 1950's, schools, shops, and public places were being desegregated. Blacks wanted equality in America. Sit-in's were taking place in the South, demonstrations were happening thoughout the country and the cry was "Freedom Now!". Max Roach became part of the rallying cry. He made a vow at that time to politicize his music and the Freedom Now Suite was created. Max Roach collaborated with lyricist Oscar Brown Jr. to co-write the Suite. The motivation for Roach and Brown to compose the Suite was the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. This album was the first and strongest document of a whole series of recordings with heavy political and sociological themes which led to Max Roach being blacklisted by the record companies for many years.
The vinyl record came out in late 1960 on the short-lived Candid label and was done in August and September 1960. Max's working band is the center of this date. Along with Roach is trumpeter Booker Little, trombonist Julian Priester and the shamefully overlooked tenor saxophonist, Walter Benton. James Schenk is the big-toned bassist and not to forget the powerful voice of Roach's girlfriend (later to become his wife), the amazing Abbey Lincoln. The great Coleman Hawkins(the father of the tenor saxophone) makes a cameo appearance on the opening composition called 'Driva' Man'(depicting the days of slavery) that blows the roof off the studio. Then the band without Hawkins plays the next piece called 'Freedom Day' on both of these Miss Lincoln sings Oscar Brown's lyrics with strength and emotion. Then the 'Tryptych: Prayer, Protest, Peace' is a duet with just Roach and Miss Lincoln. The power of this is beyond words. The second half of the Suite deals with Africa and added to the band is the legendary African drummer/vocalist Michael Olatunji plus two other percussionists. The final piece is called 'Tears for Johannesburg' and commemorates the horrible Sharpeville massacres that were then recent history.
Max Roach broke new ground with this recording and it still stands to this day as a very moving and gut wrenching musical experience that you will not forget. "We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite" is the Jazz Feature at 11pm.
Also on tap is some music by the Carla Bley Band that we didn't get around to playing last week. We will also hear a long version of Charles Mingus' protest piece 'The Fables of Faubus' from the newly issued Cornell University concert and some other surprises, so join me right from 9pm. See you then.