The current purple patch of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra recordings continues following on from their wise and stimulating Juneteenth peroration Freedom, Justice and Hope reviewed in these pages earlier this summer.
A filter to ward off cultural amnesia
When an all too real alternative is cultural erasure at worst a certain amnesia at best, through neglect wilful or otherwise of some masterpieces from the past and lack of awareness in a TikTok age when attention spans are shot to pieces, this is vital.
What's here on this, another, engaging, live album, recorded in January in New York are Max Roach (1924-2007) compositions that appeared on selections from recordings of the great bebop pioneer issued in the 1950s and 196os.
Includes classic civil rights meditations
So the earliest album section 'Blues Waltz' was on Jazz in 3/4 Time, there are significant selections from classic civil rights statement We Insist right up to 1966's 'The Drum Also Waltzes' from the Arif Mardin produced Atlantic album Drums Unlimited.
Maximum impact
Dip into some of the Max Roach treatments below to toggle to and fro between these very fine new big band treatments and the relevant Max Roach original recordings.
A lot of oomph
Musically directed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra drummer Obed Calvaire with a lot of oomph are Max Roach tunes 'Blues Waltz' arranged by trumpeter Marcus Printup; 'Garvey’s Ghost' arranged by bassist Carlos Henriquez; 'The Drum Also Waltzes' using an unspecified arrangement; 'Lonesome Lover' written by Roach and his wife for much of the 60s Abbey Lincoln arranged by trombonist Chris Crenshaw; 'Freedom Day' written by Roach and Oscar Brown arranged by trombonist Vincent Gardner; 'Conversation' unspecified arrangement; Driva’ Man by Roach and Oscar Brown arranged by Obed Calvaire and Calvaire tune ‘Between Max and Ti-Roro’. Guests include singer Shenel Johns and Chorale Le Chateau (led by Damien Sneed).
'Blues Waltz' from Jazz in 3/4 Time (1957)
'Garvey’s Ghost' from Percussion Bitter Sweet (1961)
'The Drum Also Waltzes' from Drums Unlimited (1966)
'Lonesome Lover' from It's Time (1962)
'Freedom Day' from We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite (1960)
'Conversation' from Deeds, Not Words (1958)
'Driva’ Man' from We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite (1960)
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