Max Roach at the Three Deuces, New York, October 1947

Photo by William P. Gottlieb (public domain)

Max Roach

Drums · born 10 January 1924 – died 16 August 2007

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Roach always had strong associations with black church music, his mother singing gospel and himself playing in church from an early age in North Carolina. He moved to New York in his teens and became the house drummer at Monroe's in 1942, inevitably falling in with the musicians working towards bebop. He joined Benny Carter's big band in 1944, but a year later was working with Parker and Gillespie on 52nd Street and in Dizzy's big band. He plays drums on most of Parker's important small-group sessions during 1947–9: he and Kenny Clarke had set down the primer for bop drumming, the pulse driven out from the ride cymbal, the 'bomb-dropping' bass-drum interpolations, the variations of rhythm and sound coming from the other parts of the kit. Roach was a more daring stylist than Clarke, less 'proper' in a way, and he was probably the figure who most inspired the likes of Roy Haynes to really think about their own approaches.

Roach continued working with Parker and Miles Davis while also studying composition in Manhattan School, and in 1952 he began an alliance with Charles Mingus which resulted in the formation of a record label, Debut. A year later he was over on the West Coast, where he formed a new band with Clifford Brown and Sonny Stitt, who was replaced first by Teddy Edwards and then by Harold Land. The Brown–Roach quintet began touring in 1954 and its reputation was enhanced by four brilliant records for Emarcy: Brown's creativity was surging towards a peak, Roach matched him, and Land and pianist Richie Powell played above themselves in such a sparkling context. Where Blakey's Jazz Messengers were setting down one kind of hard-bop blueprint, the Roach–Brown group suggested a less bluesy, more aristocratic kind of style. Land was replaced by Sonny Rollins in 1955, but the deaths of Brown and Richie Powell in a car accident the following June devastated Roach, although he re-formed a new band soon enough.

He did, in fact, continue to lead small bands of one sort or another from then until the early 90s. His first horn players after the dissolution of the Brown group were Kenny Dorham and Booker Little, Hank Mobley and George Coleman, and Julian Priester; Roach suffered badly from depression during this period and Priester remembers the leader punching him during a fraught club gig. The records became, if anything, even stronger and more challenging: Deeds Not Words (1958) and We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (1960) saw Roach opening up his music to the wider possibilities of studio work in the LP era, touching on freely paced structures and using barrier-nudging soloists like Little to bring a new immediacy to what he was doing. His then wife, Abbey Lincoln, performs on some of this music, and the politically aware Roach began using his work as a platform for cultural protest. Though the Debut venture had long since foundered, Roach and Mingus collaborated on an 'alternative' Newport festival in 1960, and a year later he stopped a Miles Davis concert at Carnegie Hall with a protest against the sponsoring African Research Foundation. As the decade wore on, though, Roach contented himself with letting his music do the talking. He recorded a largely solo album, Drums Unlimited, in 1966, which bridged his take on jazz tradition with an undogmatic approach to the way it could be opened into other areas of improvising. This led eventually to his all-percussion ensemble M'Boom, first established around 1970 and which continued into the 90s. He recorded comparatively infrequently in the 70s, for the most part leading a relatively conventional post-bop quintet, but in the 80s he was busier in the studios with both M'Boom and his own groups, and he also took to performing duos with some surprising collaborators – Archie Shepp and Cecil Taylor – where he lent regal authority and counterpoint to the free playing of his partners. The duo with Taylor has been convened on a number of occasions since, and there was also a concert duo recording with Dizzy Gillespie in 1989, a farewell to bebop from two of its originators. Roach's body of work has an invincible look to it: there is little or nothing which looks like a studio chore or a producer's folly. His playing, particularly as a soloist, has a composer's refinement and particularity, as well as a master drummer's accomplishment; and he should be remembered as a principal among the many small-group leaders of the past 50 years.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Clifford Brown / Max Roach – Brown and Roach IncorporatedClifford Brown / Max Roach – Brown and Roach Incorporated
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – Study in BrownClifford Brown and Max Roach – Study in Brown
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin StreetClifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin Street
  • Max Roach – Plus FourMax Roach – Plus Four
  • Max Roach – Jazz in 3/4 TimeMax Roach – Jazz in 3/4 Time
  • Max Roach + 4 – On the Chicago SceneMax Roach + 4 – On the Chicago Scene
  • Max Roach – Deeds, Not WordsMax Roach – Deeds, Not Words
  • Max Roach – We Insist! Freedom Now SuiteMax Roach – We Insist! Freedom Now Suite
  • Max Roach – Percussion Bitter SweetMax Roach – Percussion Bitter Sweet
  • Max Roach Chorus and Orchestra – It’s TimeMax Roach Chorus and Orchestra – It’s Time

Plays on

  • Cannonball Adderley – Julian Cannonball AdderleyCannonball Adderley – Julian Cannonball Adderley
  • Bud Powell – Jazz OriginalBud Powell – Jazz Original
  • Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume OneBud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume One
  • Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume TwoThelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume Two
  • Herbie Nichols – Herbie Nichols TrioHerbie Nichols – Herbie Nichols Trio
  • Charles Mingus – Mingus At The BohemiaCharles Mingus – Mingus At The Bohemia
  • Various Artists – ConceptionVarious Artists – Conception
  • Sonny Rollins – WorktimeSonny Rollins – Worktime
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By ThreeJ.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By Three
  • Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. JohnsonSonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson
  • Thelonious Monk – Thelonious Monk TrioThelonious Monk – Thelonious Monk Trio
  • Sonny Rollins – Plus FourSonny Rollins – Plus Four
  • Miles Davis – Blue HazeMiles Davis – Blue Haze
  • Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny GriffinJohnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume OneSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume One
  • Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones, Volume ThreeThad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones, Volume Three
  • Miles Davis – Birth of the CoolMiles Davis – Birth of the Cool
  • J.J. Johnson – First PlaceJ.J. Johnson – First Place
  • The Quintet – Jazz at Massey HallThe Quintet – Jazz at Massey Hall
  • Clifford Brown – Clifford Brown All-StarsClifford Brown – Clifford Brown All-Stars
  • Sonny Rollins – Saxophone ColossusSonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus
  • Sonny Rollins – Rollins Plays for BirdSonny Rollins – Rollins Plays for Bird
  • Thelonious Monk – Brilliant CornersThelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners
  • Kenny Dorham – Jazz ContrastsKenny Dorham – Jazz Contrasts
  • Sonny Rollins – Tour De ForceSonny Rollins – Tour De Force
  • Benny Golson – The Modern TouchBenny Golson – The Modern Touch
  • Sonny Rollins – Freedom SuiteSonny Rollins – Freedom Suite

Mentioned in text

  • Serge Chaloff – Boston Blow-Up!Serge Chaloff – Boston Blow-Up!
  • Miles Davis – Blue MoodsMiles Davis – Blue Moods
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – ConcordeModern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre ClarinetJimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – At Music InnModern Jazz Quartet – At Music Inn
  • Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume TwoBud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Two
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume OneJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume One
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume TwoJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume Two
  • The Jazz Messengers – At the Café Bohemia, Volume OneThe Jazz Messengers – At the Café Bohemia, Volume One
  • The Jazz Messengers – At the Café Bohemia, Volume TwoThe Jazz Messengers – At the Café Bohemia, Volume Two
  • Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume OneThelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume One
  • Art Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume OneArt Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume One
  • Art Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume TwoArt Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume Two
  • Jimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume ThreeJimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume Three
  • Clifford Brown – Memorial AlbumClifford Brown – Memorial Album
  • Dexter Gordon – Blows Hot and CoolDexter Gordon – Blows Hot and Cool
  • Carl Perkins – Introducing…Carl Perkins – Introducing…
  • Elmo Hope Trio – MeditationsElmo Hope Trio – Meditations
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • Miles Davis / Milt Jackson – Quintet / SextetMiles Davis / Milt Jackson – Quintet / Sextet
  • Tadd Dameron – FontainebleauTadd Dameron – Fontainebleau
  • Gene Ammons – Hi Fidelity Jam SessionGene Ammons – Hi Fidelity Jam Session
  • Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal JazzElmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz
  • Earl Coleman – Earl Coleman ReturnsEarl Coleman – Earl Coleman Returns
  • Phil Woods Septet – Pairing OffPhil Woods Septet – Pairing Off
  • Sonny Rollins Quartet – Tenor MadnessSonny Rollins Quartet – Tenor Madness
  • Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6
  • Bennie Green – Walking DownBennie Green – Walking Down
  • Clifford Brown – MemorialClifford Brown – Memorial
  • Hank Mobley – Mobley’s MessageHank Mobley – Mobley’s Message
  • Charles Mingus – The ClownCharles Mingus – The Clown
  • Kenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Café BohemiaKenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Café Bohemia
  • Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad JonesThad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones
  • Kenny Dorham – Afro-CubanKenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
  • Horace Silver – 6 Pieces of SilverHorace Silver – 6 Pieces of Silver
  • Hank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee MorganHank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With LouLou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley QuintetHank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley Quintet
  • Art Blakey – Orgy in Rhythm, Volume OneArt Blakey – Orgy in Rhythm, Volume One
  • Art Blakey – Orgy In Rhythm, Volume TwoArt Blakey – Orgy In Rhythm, Volume Two
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume TwoSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume Two
  • Johnny Griffin – A Blowing SessionJohnny Griffin – A Blowing Session
  • Horace Silver – The Stylings of SilverHorace Silver – The Stylings of Silver
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz Impressions of the U.S.A.Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz Impressions of the U.S.A.
  • Don Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz LabDon Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab
  • Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Drum SuiteArt Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Drum Suite
  • The Jazz Messengers – Hard BopThe Jazz Messengers – Hard Bop
  • Curtis Counce – The Curtis Counce GroupCurtis Counce – The Curtis Counce Group
  • Sonny Rollins – Way Out WestSonny Rollins – Way Out West
  • Curtis Counce – You Get More Bounce With Curtis CounceCurtis Counce – You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Warne Marsh – Jazz of Two CitiesWarne Marsh – Jazz of Two Cities
  • Charlie Parker – Bird at St. Nick’sCharlie Parker – Bird at St. Nick’s
  • Marty Paich – Marty Paich TrioMarty Paich – Marty Paich Trio
  • Sonny Rollins – Moving OutSonny Rollins – Moving Out
  • Gil Mellé – Gil’s GuestsGil Mellé – Gil’s Guests
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Night LongPrestige All-Stars – All Night Long
  • Phil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young BloodsPhil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young Bloods
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Day LongPrestige All-Stars – All Day Long
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Mobley’s 2nd MessageHank Mobley Quintet – Mobley’s 2nd Message
  • Miles Davis Quintet – Cookin’Miles Davis Quintet – Cookin’
  • Ray Draper Quintet – Tuba SoundsRay Draper Quintet – Tuba Sounds
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Miles Davis – Bags GrooveMiles Davis – Bags Groove
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four AltosPhil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos
  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers
  • George Russell – Jazz WorkshopGeorge Russell – Jazz Workshop
  • Ernie Henry – Presenting Ernie HenryErnie Henry – Presenting Ernie Henry
  • Bill Evans – New Jazz ConceptionsBill Evans – New Jazz Conceptions
  • Sonny Rollins – The Sound of SonnySonny Rollins – The Sound of Sonny
  • Thelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets MonkThelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets Monk
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee MorganHank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee Morgan
  • Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2
  • Cecil Payne – Cecil PayneCecil Payne – Cecil Payne
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff SmithDizzy Gillespie – Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff Smith
  • George Wallington – Knight MusicGeorge Wallington – Knight Music
  • Warne Marsh – Warne MarshWarne Marsh – Warne Marsh
  • Paul Chambers – Paul Chambers QuintetPaul Chambers – Paul Chambers Quintet
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff JordanCliff Jordan – Cliff Jordan
  • Hank Mobley – Hank MobleyHank Mobley – Hank Mobley
  • Curtis Fuller – Bone & BariCurtis Fuller – Bone & Bari
  • John Jenkins / Kenny Burrell – John Jenkins with Kenny BurrellJohn Jenkins / Kenny Burrell – John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Horace Silver Quintet – Further ExplorationsHorace Silver Quintet – Further Explorations
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Leroy Vinnegar Sextet – Leroy Walks!Leroy Vinnegar Sextet – Leroy Walks!
  • George Wallington Quintet – The PrestidigitatorGeorge Wallington Quintet – The Prestidigitator
  • Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto MadnessJackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness
  • Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’
  • Tommy Flanagan – OverseasTommy Flanagan – Overseas
  • Thelonious Monk Quartet – MisteriosoThelonious Monk Quartet – Misterioso
  • Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to ComeOrnette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
  • Hank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ TimeHank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ Time
  • The 3 Sounds – The 3 SoundsThe 3 Sounds – The 3 Sounds
  • Jimmy Smith – The SermonJimmy Smith – The Sermon
  • Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah UmCharles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
  • Sonny Rollins – And the Contemporary LeadersSonny Rollins – And the Contemporary Leaders
  • Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow is the Question!Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow is the Question!
  • Johnny Griffin – The Little GiantJohnny Griffin – The Little Giant
  • Young Men from Memphis – Down Home ReunionYoung Men from Memphis – Down Home Reunion
  • Walter Davis, Jr. – Davis CupWalter Davis, Jr. – Davis Cup
  • Donald Byrd – Byrd in HandDonald Byrd – Byrd in Hand
  • Freddie Redd Quartet – Music from The ConnectionFreddie Redd Quartet – Music from The Connection
  • Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’
  • Hank Mobley – Soul StationHank Mobley – Soul Station
  • Stanley Turrentine – Look Out!Stanley Turrentine – Look Out!
  • Harold Land – The FoxHarold Land – The Fox
  • Jackie McLean – Makin’ the ChangesJackie McLean – Makin’ the Changes
  • Eric Dolphy – Outward BoundEric Dolphy – Outward Bound
  • Booker Little – Booker LittleBooker Little – Booker Little
  • Lee Morgan – Lee-WayLee Morgan – Lee-Way
  • Eric Dolphy – Out ThereEric Dolphy – Out There
  • John Coltrane – Coltrane Plays the BluesJohn Coltrane – Coltrane Plays the Blues
  • Jackie Paris – The Song is ParisJackie Paris – The Song is Paris
  • McCoy Tyner Trio – InceptionMcCoy Tyner Trio – Inception
  • Jimmy Woods Sextet – ConflictJimmy Woods Sextet – Conflict
  • Art Blakey Jazz Messengers – CaravanArt Blakey Jazz Messengers – Caravan
  • Charles Mingus – The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyCharles Mingus – The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
  • Charles Mingus – Town Hall Concert, 1964Charles Mingus – Town Hall Concert, 1964
  • Elvin Jones – And Then AgainElvin Jones – And Then Again
  • Miles Davis – And the Modern Jazz GiantsMiles Davis – And the Modern Jazz Giants
  • Dexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village VanguardDexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard
  • Richard Davis – Way Out WestRichard Davis – Way Out West