#4833, Max Roach Birthday Tribute

For this New Sounds, it’s a tribute to drummer, composer, educator, and activist Max Roach. Hear in-studio performances, concert recordings, and interviews from our archives.

Drummer, composer and improviser Max Roach posits that the drumset is an amalgam of different traditions of the world, with African and Native American (toms from the hand drums), European orchestral (snare drum and bass drum) and Middle Eastern (cymbals) components to a full drum kit. During another interview, Max also reminds us that the drumset is a melodic instrument, as the drums are capable of being tuned to pitches. Listen to a waltz for drum kit by Max Roach from an in-studio performance that he did in 1992, WITHOUT STICKS and just USING HIS HANDS, after his car had been broken into and all gear stolen from within.  

Then, sample his work with orchestral music, along with a taste of his recordings with percussion ensemble M’Boom. Listen also to some of his Four-Part Inventions – phenomenal studies of four-limbed melodic independence, using both hands and feet (and his voice). Plus, hear his work arranged by Maxine Roach of the Uptown String Quartet (yes, his daughter), and recorded at a New Sounds Live concert from 1994. The special bonus encore is a spectacular etude for only hi-hats - just two cymbals mounted on the one stand - a single piece of the drumkit with which Max Roach schooled an audience at Merkin Hall in 1994. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4833, Max Roach Birthday Tribute (First aired 01/10/2024)

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: Four-part Invention: Billy the Kid [1:22]
RECORDING:New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/max-roach

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: The Drum Also Waltzes [1:19]
RECORDING: Around New York, 1992
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Max-Roach

ARTIST: M'Boom (Percussion Ensemble)
WORK: Max Roach: Ghost Dance [2:15]
RECORDING: To the Max!
SOURCE: Blue Moon / Enja Records
INFO: Try Discogs.com

ARTIST: full orchestral realization, featuring Max Roach
WORK: Fred Tillis: Festival Journey [5:52]
RECORDING:  Private Recording
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/max-roach-mn0000396372

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: Max Roach: Four Part Invention - Smoke that Thunders [5:40]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.pas.org/about/hall-of-fame/max-roach

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: Max Roach: Four Part Invention - Smoke that Thunders [5:40]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/arts/music/max-roach-jazz-music.html

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: Max Roach: Four Part Invention - Jazz Me [3:35]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/documenting-the-legacy-of-drummer-max-roach-981bjk/29320/

ARTIST: Max Roach, audience
WORK: Max Roach: Mop Mop [3:14]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.gretschdrums.com/artists/max-roach

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: Max Roach: Hi-Hat Improvisation [2:28]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/max-roach/

ARTIST: Uptown String Quartet
WORK: Maxine Roach: Extensions - Billy the Kid [2:28]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.pcmsconcerts.org/artist/uptown-quartet

ARTIST: Max Roach
WORK: Max Roach: Four Part Invention - Billy the Kid [4:00]
RECORDING:  New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 1994
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://jazz.org/concert/max-roach-centennial-the-jlco-with-wynton-marsalis/