Exploring musical connections one track at a time…
Our last post explored We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite (1960), a pivotal work which set the blueprint for many protest records to follow. Bobby Hutcherson’s album Now!, released on Blue Note in 1970, was one of those records which continued to build on the powerful political and musical statement Roach had made ten years prior.
Continue reading “Bobby Hutcherson – Black Heroes”
As tens of thousands of protestors march against police brutality and systemic racism, one album demands to be heard. We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite is a protest record from 1960, and the inspiration behind many subsequent works including ‘The Reverend King Suite’ from Jack DeJohnette’s Sorcery (1974). As Ollie mentioned, Roach said after its release: “I will never again play anything that does not have social significance.”
Continue reading “Max Roach – Tears for Johannesburg”
Our last two posts focused on Max Roach and Charles Mingus, who (along with Mingus’ wife Celia) founded the short-lived Debut Records, designed to bypass the commercialism of major labels. Both musicians had played with the great Duke Ellington, though Mingus’ stint lasted a mere four days before being fired for – you guessed it – fighting.
Continue reading “Duke Ellington – Money Jungle”
The previous post focussed on ‘Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting’ from Charles Mingus’ political and earthy album Blues & Roots. Today, I look at the album Members, Don’t Git Weary, released on Atlantic in 1968 by a musical contemporary of Mingus, the great Max Roach, one of the most influential drummers in the history of jazz. Roach was a bebop pioneer and changed the way drummers played jazz, elevating the drummer from accompanist to major player.
Continue reading “Max Roach – Effi”