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Max Roach

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Music Reviews

Max Roach's 1960 landmark 'We Insist!' proves timeless in a reissue

Fresh Air

Roach's album was recently named to the National Recording Registry, a roster of works deemed culturally, historically or aesthetically significant; We Insist! scores in all three categories.

Max Roach's 1960 landmark 'We Insist!' proves timeless in a reissue

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We Insist: A Century Of Black Music Against State Violence

Lil Baby performs during a Juneteenth voter registration rally on June 19, 2020 at Murphy Park Fairgrounds in Atlanta, Ga. One week earlier, he released "The Bigger Picture," a song protesting police brutality. Paras Griffin/Getty Images hide caption

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Paras Griffin/Getty Images

America Reckons With Racial Injustice

We Insist: A Century Of Black Music Against State Violence

These songs take on some of the ugliest stories in our history and reflect the commitment of Black musicians to telling the truth of how Black people have been wronged, and survived, and fought back.

Review

Basic Jazz Record Library

Hazel Scott: 'Relaxed Piano Moods'

Pianist Hazel Scott was one of the few artists who successfully integrated jazz and classical music. For 1955's Relaxed Piano Sounds, Scott teamed with the two men who owned Debut Records — drummer Max Roach and bassist Charles Mingus — for one of the best piano trios ever recorded.

Hazel Scott: 'Relaxed Piano Moods'

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Basic Jazz Record Library

Max Roach: 'Clifford Brown and Max Roach'

Max Roach was one of the founders of the jazz "be-bop" style. He also revolutionized jazz drumming by shifting the focus of the beat from the bass drum to the ride cymbal. In 1954, he formed a quintet in Los Angeles with trumpeter Clifford Brown, resulting in several classic recordings.

Max Roach: 'Clifford Brown and Max Roach'

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Remembering Max Roach, Rhythmic Innovator

Max Roach, ca. Oct. 1947. William P. Gottlieb/Library of Congress via flickr.com hide caption

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William P. Gottlieb/Library of Congress via flickr.com

NPR's 'Jazz Profiles'

Remembering Max Roach, Rhythmic Innovator

Drummer Max Roach died August 16th, 2007 at the age of 83. A primary architect of the bebop revolution, Roach was one of the most innovative and influential musicians in jazz. This 75th birthday tribute originally aired in 2001.

Max Roach: 75th Birthday Tribute

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Basic Jazz Record Library

Charlie Parker: 'Jazz at Massey Hall'

The 1953 album Jazz at Massey Hall contains the only jazz composition sung by a United States president while in office. The song is "Salt Peanuts," performed by Jimmy Carter at the White House Jazz Festival. Jazz at Massey Hall also documents one of the rare moments when Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Max Roach, and The Quintet recorded together.

Charlie Parker: 'Jazz at Massey Hall'

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Max Roach On Piano Jazz

Max Roach performs in Havana, Cuba in 1989. Rafael Perez/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Rafael Perez/AFP/Getty Images

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Max Roach On Piano Jazz

Roach was one of jazz's legendary drummers — an innovator and co-creator of what became known as bebop. In this program from 1998, Roach relates a few memories of performing with Bird, Monk and Diz.

Max Roach In The Studio

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Music Interviews

Jazz World Mourns Loss of Max Roach

Legendary jazz percussionist Max Roach is dead at 83. Having been associated with greats such as Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie, the self-taught musician wowed audiences throughout the world.

Jazz World Mourns Loss of Max Roach

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