Max Roach
Drums
August 16, 2007 (Age 83) died
January 10, 1924 Birthday
Newland, North Carolina, U.S. Birthplace
Social
About
Considered one of the founders of modern jazz, Max Roach was an innovative drummer and composer. Over his 60 year career he was known for his melodic drumming, fast tempos and adventurous spirit. Roach played with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, giving rise to bebop, participated in Miles Davis' Birth of Cool sessions, co-led a quintet with Clifford Brown, and recorded over 50 albums with his own groups. As he aged Roach continued to innovate experimenting with avant-garde music, collaborating with rappers, and composing for plays and dance pieces. He also taught jazz at the University of Massachusetts at Amhearst from 1972 through the mid-1990s. He died in New York at the age of 83.
Trivia
After being told that his technique was incorrect Max Roach chose to study composition at the Manhattan School of Music instead of percussion. He was among the first to use jazz to address racial and political issues, composing “We Insist! Freedom Now Suite” with Oscar Brown Jr. in 1960. Max Roach received a MacArthur grant in 1988, the first jazz musician to do so.
Early Life
Max Roach was born in North Carolina and moved to New York City at age 4. His mother was a gospel singer and Roach played in gospel bands as a child. He began studying the piano at age 8 and moved on to the drums a few years later. Largely self-taught, by his late teens he was playing with greats such as Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.
Max Roach Solos
1956
Drums solo - St. Thomas - 1956
4/4 latin in C major at 214 BPM
Drums solo - Mac The Knife - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 165 BPM
Drums solo - Blue 7 - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 137 BPM
Drums solo - Valse Hot - 1956
3/4 waltz in A♭ major at 141 BPM
Drums solo - Pent-Up House - 1956
4/4 swing in G major at 191 BPM
1955
Drums solo - Cherokee - 1955
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 360 BPM
Drums solo - Jacqui - 1955
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 195 BPM
Drums solo - Sandu - 1955
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 151 BPM
Drums solo - Gerkin For Perkin - 1955
4/4 swing in F major at 216 BPM
Drums solo - If I Love Again - 1955
4/4 swing in F major at 279 BPM
Drums solo - The Blues Walk - 1955
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 268 BPM
Drums solo - What Am I Here For? - 1955
4/4 swing in C major at 283 BPM
Drums solo - The Blues Walk - 1955
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 287 BPM
1954
Drums solo - Delilah - 1954
4/4 swing in G♭ minor at 149 BPM
Drums solo - Parisian Thoroughfare - 1954
4/4 swing in F major at 193 BPM
Drums solo - Daahoud - 1954
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 250 BPM
Drums solo - Joy Spring - 1954
4/4 swing in F major at 166 BPM
Drums solo - Jordu - 1954
4/4 swing in C minor at 140 BPM
Drums solo - Daahoud - 1954
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 250 BPM
Drums solo - Joy Spring - 1954
4/4 swing in F major at 168 BPM
1948
Drums solo - Merry-Go-Round - 1948
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 322 BPM
1947
Drums solo - Dexterity - 1947
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 215 BPM
Drums solo - Dewey Square - 1947
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 176 BPM
Drums solo - Bird Feathers - 1947
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 229 BPM
Drums solo - Klact-Oveeseds-Tene - 1947
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 243 BPM
Drums solo - Bongo Beep - 1947
4/4 swing in C major at 191 BPM
Drums solo - Crazeology - 1947
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 259 BPM
1945
Drums solo - Ko-Ko - 1945
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 310 BPM