The Urban Landscapes Radioshow 10.32
Drummer Max Roach died this week at the age of 83.
I bet many of you don’t really know who Max Roach was. Truth be told, neither did I.
Sure, I’ve heard his name again and again as part of jazz lineups, so my assumption was that he had to be one of the jazz influentials. Little did I realize just how influential he was.
Spending just about all of his life making music (he started doing so when most of us kids struggled learning cursive handwriting), Max Roach was one of the key pioneers of the be-bop jazz movement of the 1940’s. Drummers were mere bookends to a band in those days, relegated to peon status. It was Max Roach who showed the jazz world, and all of music afterwards, that drummers were just as instrumental and just as much key players as pianists, saxophonists, bassists, and other lead musicians.
It’s safe to say that without Max Roach, drummers would have been stuck playing drums in the usual 4/4 time signature. The drum was indeed his instrument of choice, but Roach mastered quite a few other percussive instruments in his five-plus decades as a musician. From jazz cats to hip-hop beatmakers, Max Roach wasn’t above tackling whatever musical territory tickled his fancy.
It’s safe to say that Max Roach has lived a long and varied life vicariously through his music. I’m sure he’ll still be banging away at the drums in the afterlife.
Apart from some musical droppings of Max Roach’s music, a whole slew of new music awaits you. It’s a good batch of wonder, and I hope you enjoy it.
Thursday August 16, 2007
Song - Artist - Title - Label
Driva Man - Max Roach - We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite - Candid
January V - Max Roach - M’Boom - Columbia
Take It Slow - Fleur - CD-R
Midnight Sun - Elizabeth Shepherd Trio - Besides - Do Right! promo
So Good Today - Ben Westbeech vs. The Dap-Kings - Brownswood promo
I’m So Thankful - Eugene Blacknell - We Can’t Take Life For Granted - Luv N’Haight promo
Stereo Funny - Albin Janoska - Le Grand Baheux - Klein promo
Everyday (OK_Ma Remix) - Jonny Miller - EP4 - Jus’ Listen
Together featuring Mr. J. - Atjazz - Full Circle - Mantis promo
Where Can I Go? - Freesoul Sessions - EP3 - Antipodean promo
Catch My Soul - Drawbar - The Present EP - Counterpoint promo
Another Island (Slope Remix) - Art Bleek - EP - Loungin’ promo
Because of You (Daco Remix) - Michelle Amador - EP - Sick Trumpet promo
Azua Azua (Latin Funk Mix) - Deela - Ruhrfahrt EP - Switchstance promo
Start To Play (Drumlessons Piano Mix) - Wagon Cookin - EP - Compost Black Label promo
Can You Feel It - Formidable Force - EP - Eight-Tracks promo
Side Step Test - Haruki Matsuo - EP - Rush Hour promo
Damaged Language System - Art Bleek - Antichambre EP - Rush Hour promo
About Us (Chuck Love Remix) - Colette - Push - Om
Above You (Dixon Edit) - 1Luv - Neophilia - Sonar Kollektiv
Cold Air (Phuture Lounge Mix) - Jonny Miller - EP4 - Jus’ Listen
The Glorious Monster - Max Roach - M’Boom - Columbia
END BROADCAST
