Sunday, August 19, 2007
(5:07 PM) | Brad:
Weekend Jazz: Max Roach Edition
As many of you know, we lost a piece of living history this week when the great jazz drummer Max Roach died. It's hard to overstate his role in the evolution of jazz. From the earliest days of bebop to the Cuban/African sound of his later work, Roach kept growing and kept laying down vital music.This was a hard mix to make, because there is just so much worth listening to again and again. But, having said that, I think this was the most fun I had coming up with a Weekend Jazz mix. Fortunately, I think it is also my favorite Weekend Jazz mix.
Even if you don't agree, I hope you enjoy.
First, from his live session at Basin Street with Clifford Brown (& Sonny Rollins), "What Is This Thing Called Love".
And then two from their indispensable set at Massey Hall, The Quintet (Gillespie, Mingus, Parker, Roach, & Powell) bring us "Salt Peanuts" and "Wee". Listen as Roach tears it up midway through both of these.
And last, from his 1961 Percussion Bitter Sweet Eric Dolphy, Abbey Lincoln, Booker Little and Roach set ablaze and bring home the classic "Mendacity".
