king ubu

Yes... that's interesting... I prefer Philly Joe and Elvin for daily listening pleasure, I think, but Max (and similar Roy Haynes) are so great if you can listen a bit closer, less of that easy swinging groove (I guess that's the point about "Max Roach doesn't swing" - it's repeated by some of his sidemen, Billy Wallace mostly, I think, in the montage of quotes in the Mosaic booklet) but a highly musical, intense and concentrated way of playing that holds a lot of fascination.

Hard to say... there's none that's in constant circulation, really... but the one I played most often of late, I think, is the Randy Weston Select (particularly disc 3).

Oh yes! That's the first album I ever heard with him on drums. The solo he pulls on "St. Thomas" is jaw-dropping (as is the whole album... Blue Seven!) Beautiful sound on that album too (even on the 80s Fantasy version), it's so deep and blue - one of my very favourite albums to this day! I was able to catch Max live, in a weird concert with Abdullah Ibrahim. First both of them played half a solo set, and after the break they made a lame attempt at a duo. The Roach solo portion was the only part that was convincing and partly very good, but the whole event was a big letdown, even though I love both guys when they're on their own (or working with more sympathetic partners). "To The Max", the 2CD set, is a nice showcase of more recent Roach, including M'Boom, his 80s quartet, the double quartet and more. Covers all the variety of things Max did in his later career. Nothing of it comes close, in my opinion, to the stuff he did in 55-63 or so, though... in fact probably most of his post Brownie material isn't coming close to their quintet in 55/56, except maybe for the Candid and Impulse albums mentioned in my first post. But then, luckily, it's not just about "greatest" albums all the time... he did so many good and great ones besides those classics, too!

I've been digging a lot of Max Roach's music, lately. Put most of the Brown/Roach Quintet material from the great 10CD box onto my iPod (omitting some alternates and false starts). Then I just recently got around playing most of the Mosaic box, combined with the albums he did for other labels in between the Mercury albums, including "Max" (Argo), "Deeds Not Words" (Riverside), the Time album, and just this morning while commuting the great Prestige album of Sonny Rollins' heading the Roach +4 band with Wade Legge and Kenny Dorham (including the magnificient Bird-medley, which probably was the idea for the Mercury album "Roach Plays Charlie Parker", I assume?) Anyway, it's most fascinating to see how Max evolves. Also it's very interesting to read the liners in the Mosaic and compare the music, play it in chronological way, check out how Roach's solo conception changes and grows... he seems to have been one of jazz' sharpest minds back then - a very intriguing character, to me. Looking forward now to continue the trip with more of the Turrentine Bros./Julian Priester Quintet (incl. the Tommy T. album for Time adding Horace Parlan on piano, and the live album on Enja predating the last of the Mercury albums recorded in Paris). Next then what I still think are his best albums (besides the Brown/Roach material), "Freedom Now Suite" and "Percussion Bitter Suite". What a great body of work in so few years! Too bad only that Mercury had more of a project-based approach and didn't document the working quartets/quintets more thoroughly! They're clearly on fire on the 1958 Newport set! Max Roach Mosaic thread Max Roach & Tony Williams thread Max Roach recommendations thread Album: Max Roach Trio feat. Hasaan Album: Percussion Bitter Suite Max Roach health thread Max Roach health thread (2) Album: Roach/Brown Quintet: Live at the Beehive Album: Roach/Brown Quintet - The Last Concert Crappy discography (courtesy of the usual suspects) a couple of his best albums include:

same here - r.i.p.

and now, just for the fun of it... Grinderman, one of the most concise box sets, just about 40 minutes of great music:

Ha, I was lazy and posted about the Hampton and the Roach in one go... sorry 'bout that!

disc 6 now (alternates to the drum battle and the album with Abbey sitting in), to be followed by the second half of disc 5 (the masters/original album w/Abbey) - great stuff (though not the drum battle... rather tedious)

Happy Birthday! :party:

Last night: discs 1 and 2 of the Lionel Hampton Complete Verve Sessions with Oscar Peterson Now: Max Roach Mosaic discs 4 and 5, with the Booker Little UA session and the Time album by Roach preceeding the second date on disc 4. Great stuff!

Yep. Got it from newbury comics (via amazon.com) for 65 bucks, all inclusive - not bad, considering how cheap the $$ is... And I finally played the first two discs last night, and wow! Great music! Probaby the first time I really dug Oscar Peterson (he doesn't bother me when playing behind Prez or Hawk or Ben, but I don't exactly wait for his solos...), but Hamp is indeed "on" all of the time, what an amazing flow of ideas! The rhythmical momentum he creates is infectuous, and Buddy Rich suits in there just right, too! Not to forget Ray Brown... definitely a great box set to have!

I saw the Basie being announced somewhere. Lucky to have at least the live Mosaic... great music indeed! With no Maynard here I might look for that one... ah yes, some Maynard, "Chameleon" - best part is the banned ones unedited liner notes, the music sucks heavily...

10-15... including the silent ones... (I am guilty as far as gnhrt's is concerned, too...)

Happy Birthday, Lon! And all the best to your wife as well!

That's nice! The Swiss paper I read daily (NZZ) sometimes carries articles by Simic (comments on political stuff in the US, mostly - very interesting read, each time!)

I'd put it this way (and I have about 10 of his discs, including the BN box, so I don't have as strong issues as others here): he's technically very, very accomplished, but not really going places all that often... just not an inspired/inspiring player, most of the time. Another one I have and quite like (make that 11, then) is the quartet he did with Steve Grossman, shortly before he died. (Grossman has a few very good ones on Dreyfus, including "Time to Smile" with Elvin and Tom Harrell and a trio one with Art Taylor called "Boucing with Mr. A.T."). I wonder, how's "Flamingo", the disc with Grappelli and Roy Haynes? (Who's on bass again, NHOP?)

In only have the Owl with Lee Konitz - good one! Are any of the others available? I only know of an "Owl Years" 2CD package that I didn't feel like buying...

What do you mean? I guess it's rather anotehr case of a license timing out way before the slated number of sets has been sold (same for Berigan, Bailey, Roach and any other I bought recently that was running low). Pretty sad that they seem to be unable to sell the actually planned number of sets in so many cases!

Interesting... The Talented Touch I loved back then but have only played it again two or three times... the Concord twofer is still standing exactly where I put it after a first listen (in the living room, next to some other "easy on the ears" stuff that I might put on when we have musically undemanding guests...) Still "Upon Reflection" would be my choice for one Hank Jones disc.

re. Budd Johnson: his soaring soprano on Randy Weston's great album "Tanjah"! hellyeah! I don't know much about Budd, but hold him in highest esteem if only for the few things I know he did late in his career - very impressive!

no need to argue, clem, I can hear where you're coming from, but maybe if you ever feel like trying some more Hank, get his "Upon Reflection", a fine trio set composed of Thad J. tunes (which makes them special, of course... lots more love and interest for/in Thad here than in Hank...) anyway, KB was sort of my favourite guitar player back when I got into jazz, but I find today I rarely listen to him any longer... I don't listen to that much guitar anyway, but if so, I'd rather go with Grant Green or René Thomas, to just name two.

Those look cool. Those ARE cool! yes indeed! I ordered some more OJCs (Ernie Henry & Sonny Criss)... ouch ouch ouch!

I think I know Dallas only from "Motion" but he's indeed pretty good there. r.i.p.

And where's Clarke/Boland's "The Golden Eight", please? Ah no, let us have another version of "Blue Trane" first, sure!

I don't have that Elvin album yet - it's on my huuuuuge OJC/Fantasy to get list... Probably he was (is? has the news been confirmed in any way by now?) just too strong a musical personality. I mean his walking lines, his timing, all of it is too personal for him to just fit in on any kind of jam session or loosely arranged studio date. With Roach though, he's very inspired and inspiring, I find - much more so than George Morrow, who just happens to play the bass in the band, most of the time, Davis is there, you can feel him at any given moment and he's actively shaping the music, not just accompanying - that's how it feels to me, at least...