Editing Max Roach (section)

==Biography==
{{Moresources|section|date=June 2023}}
===Early life and career===
Max Roach was born to Alphonse and Cressie Roach in the Township of Newland, [[Pasquotank County]], [[North Carolina]], which borders the southern edge of the [[Great Dismal Swamp]]. The Township of Newland is  sometimes mistaken for Newland Town in [[Avery County, North Carolina]].

Roach's family moved to the [[Bedford-Stuyvesant]] neighborhood of [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, New York]], when he was four years old. He grew up in a musical home with his [[gospel singer]] mother. He started to play [[bugle (instrument)|bugle]] in parades at a young age. At the age of 10, he was already playing drums in some gospel bands.

In 1942, as an 18-year-old recently graduated from [[Boys and Girls High School|Boys High School]] in [[Brooklyn]], he was called to fill in for [[Sonny Greer]] with the [[Duke Ellington]] Orchestra performing at the [[Paramount Theatre (New York City)|Paramount Theater]] in [[Manhattan]]. He started going to the [[jazz club]]s on [[52nd Street (Manhattan)|52nd Street]] and at 78th Street & [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] for Georgie Jay's Taproom, where he played with schoolmate [[Cecil Payne]].<ref name="Roach's account">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5WF-uzhaLU4C&q=Georgie+Jay%27s+Taproom&pg=PA77|title=Swing to Bop: An Oral History of the Transition in Jazz in the 1940s|author-link=Ira Gitler|first=Ira|last=Gitler|date=1985|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=9780195364118|page=77|access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref> His first professional recording took place in December 1943, backing [[Coleman Hawkins]].<ref name="Max Roach Discography">{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzdisco.org/max-roach/discography/#431218|title=Max Roach discography|website=Jazz Disco|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

He was one of the first drummers, along with [[Kenny Clarke]], to play in the [[bebop]] style. Roach performed in bands led by [[Dizzy Gillespie]], [[Charlie Parker]], [[Thelonious Monk]], [[Coleman Hawkins]], [[Bud Powell]], and [[Miles Davis]]. He played on many of Parker's most important records, including the [[Savoy Records]] November 1945 session, which marked a turning point in recorded jazz. His early [[Drum brush|brush]] work with Powell's trio, especially at fast tempos, has been highly praised.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=The Complete Bud Powell on Verve|year=1994|last=Harris|first=Barry|first2=Michael|last2=Weiss|pages=106|type=[[liner notes]], booklet|publisher=[[Verve Records]]}}</ref>

Roach nurtured an interest in and respect for [[Afro-Caribbean music]] and traveled to [[Haiti]] in the late 1940s to study with the traditional drummer [[Ti Roro]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Haydon|first1=Geoffrey|last2=Marks|first2=Dennis|title=A Celebration of African-American Music|publisher=Century Publishing|date=1985|page=99|chapter=Sit Down and Listen: The Story of Max Roach.}}</ref>

===1950s===

Roach studied [[classical percussion]] at the [[Manhattan School of Music]] from 1950 to 1953, working toward a [[Bachelor of Music]] degree. The school awarded him an [[Honorary Doctorate]] in 1990.

In 1952, Roach co-founded [[Debut Records]] with bassist [[Charles Mingus]], one of the first artist-owned labels. The label released a record of a May 15, 1953, concert billed as "the greatest concert ever", which came to be known as ''[[Jazz at Massey Hall]]'', featuring Parker, Gillespie, Powell, Mingus, and Roach. Also released on this label was the groundbreaking bass-and-drum [[free improvisation]], ''Percussion Discussion''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyexplorer.net/?Jazz_History_Timeline:1952_-_1961|title=History Explorer > Jazz History Timeline > 1952 - 1961|website=History Explorer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527173221/http://www.historyexplorer.net/?Jazz_History_Timeline%3A1952_-_1961|archive-date=May 27, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref>

In 1954, Roach and trumpeter [[Clifford Brown]] formed a quintet that also featured tenor saxophonist [[Harold Land]], pianist [[Richie Powell]] (brother of Bud Powell), and bassist [[George Morrow (bassist)|George Morrow]]. Land left the quintet the following year and was replaced by [[Sonny Rollins]]. The group was a prime example of the [[hard bop]] style also played by [[Art Blakey]] and [[Horace Silver]]. Later that year, he relocated to the Los Angeles area, where he replaced [[Shelly Manne]] in the popular Lighthouse All Stars.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bob|first=Blumenthal|title=Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet|url=https://www.mosaicrecords.com/the-great-jazz-artists/clifford-brown/|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=Mosaic Records|language=en-US}}</ref>

Brown and Richie Powell were killed in a car accident on the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] in June 1956. The first album Roach recorded after their deaths was ''[[Max Roach + 4]]''. After Brown and Powell's deaths, Roach continued leading a similarly configured group, with [[Kenny Dorham]] (and later [[Booker Little]]) on trumpet, [[George Coleman]] on tenor, and pianist [[Ray Bryant]]. Roach expanded the standard form of hard bop using 3/4 [[waltz]] rhythms and modality in 1957 with his album ''[[Jazz in 3/4 Time]]''. During this period, Roach recorded a series of other albums for [[EmArcy Records]] featuring the brothers [[Stanley Turrentine|Stanley]] and [[Tommy Turrentine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzitude.com/hardbophist.htm|title=History of Jazz Part 6: Hard Bop|date=April 11, 2007|website=Jazzitude|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519143807/http://jazzitude.com/hardbophist.htm|archive-date=May 19, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref>

In 1955, he played drums for vocalist [[Dinah Washington]] at several live appearances and recordings. He appeared with Washington at the [[Newport Jazz Festival]] in 1958, which was [[Jazz on a Summer's Day|filmed]], and at the 1954 live studio audience recording of ''[[Dinah Jams]]'', considered to be one of the best and most overlooked [[vocal jazz]] albums of its genre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hipjazz.com/joy_spring.htm|title=Joy Spring|website=Hipjazz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928101932/http://www.hipjazz.com/joy_spring.htm|archive-date=September 28, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=October 26, 2011}}</ref>

===1960s–1970s===
In 1960 he composed and recorded the album ''[[We Insist!]]'' (subtitled ''Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite)'', with vocals by his then-wife [[Abbey Lincoln]] and lyrics by [[Oscar Brown Jr.]], after being invited to contribute to commemorations of the hundredth anniversary of [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s [[Emancipation Proclamation]]. In 1962, he recorded the album ''[[Money Jungle]]'', a collaboration with Mingus and [[Duke Ellington]]. This is generally regarded as one of the finest trio albums ever recorded.<ref>[http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-archive/ellington2.htm "Duke Ellington Money Jungle Blue Note, Recorded 1962"]. ''Inkblot'' (magazine). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604170231/http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-archive/ellington2.htm|date=June 4, 2008}}</ref>

During the 1970s, Roach formed [[M'Boom]], a percussion orchestra. Each member composed for the ensemble and performed on multiple percussion instruments. Personnel included Fred King, [[Joe Chambers]], [[Warren Smith (jazz musician)|Warren Smith]], [[Freddie Waits]], [[Roy Brooks]], Omar Clay, [[Ray Mantilla]], Francisco Mora, and Eli Fountain.<ref name="aaj"/>

Long involved in [[jazz education]], in 1972 Roach was recruited to the faculty of the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] by Chancellor [[Randolph Bromery]].<ref name="umassobit">[[University of Massachusetts]], [https://archive.today/20130403115306/http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/randolph-w-bromery-dead "Randolph W. Bromery, Champion of Diversity, Du Bois and Jazz as UMass Amherst Chancellor, Dead at 87"], February 27, 2013.</ref> He taught at the university until the mid-1990s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Palpini|first=Kristin|date=August 17, 2007|title=Jazz great, UMass prof Max Roach dies|journal=[[Amherst Bulletin]]}}</ref>

===1980s–1990s===
[[Image:Max Roach Keystone 1979.jpg|320px|thumb|right|[[Keystone Korner]], [[San Francisco]], 1979]]
In the early 1980s, Roach began presenting solo concerts, demonstrating that multiple percussion instruments performed by one player could fulfill the demands of solo performance and be entirely satisfying to an audience. He created memorable compositions in these solo concerts, and a solo record was released by the Japanese jazz label Baystate. One of his solo concerts is available on a video, which also includes footage of a recording date for ''Chattahoochee Red'', featuring his working quartet, [[Odean Pope]], [[Cecil Bridgewater]], and Calvin Hill.

Roach also embarked on a series of duet recordings. Departing from the style he was best known for, most of the music on these recordings is free improvisation, created with [[Cecil Taylor]], [[Anthony Braxton]], [[Archie Shepp]], and [[Abdullah Ibrahim]]. Roach created duets with other performers, including: a recorded duet with oration of the "[[I Have a Dream]]" speech by [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]; a duet with [[video artist]] Kit Fitzgerald, who improvised video imagery while Roach created the music; a duet with his lifelong friend and associate Gillespie; and a duet concert recording with [[Mal Waldron]].

During the 1980s Roach also wrote music for theater, including plays by [[Sam Shepard]]. He was composer and [[Music director|musical director]] for a festival of Shepard plays, called "ShepardSets", at [[La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club]] in 1984. The festival included productions of ''Back Bog Beast Bait'', ''[[Angel City (play)|Angel City]]'', and ''[[Suicide in B Flat]]''.<ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. [https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Occurrences/2618 "Special Event: 'ShepardSets: A Festival of Sam Shepard Plays' (1984)"]. Retrieved August 29, 2018.</ref> In 1985, George Ferencz directed "Max Roach Live at La MaMa: A Multimedia Collaboration".<ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. [https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Occurrences/2777 "Production: 'Max Roach Live at La MaMa: A Multimedia Collaboration' (1985)"]. Retrieved August 29, 2018.</ref>

Roach found new contexts for performance, creating unique musical ensembles. One of these groups was "The Double Quartet", featuring his regular performing quartet with the same personnel as above, except Tyrone Brown replaced Hill. This quartet joined "The Uptown String Quartet", led by his daughter Maxine Roach and featuring Diane Monroe, Lesa Terry, and [[Eileen Folson]].

Another ensemble was the "So What Brass Quintet", a group comprising five brass instrumentalists and Roach, with no [[chordal instrument]] and no bass player. Much of the performance consisted of drums and horn duets. The ensemble consisted of two trumpets, trombone, [[French horn]], and tuba. Personnel included [[Cecil Bridgewater]], Frank Gordon, [[Eddie Henderson (musician)|Eddie Henderson]], Rod McGaha, [[Steve Turre]], [[Delfeayo Marsalis]], [[Bob Stewart (musician)|Robert Stewart]], Tony Underwood, Marshall Sealy, Mark Taylor, and Dennis Jeter.

Not content to expand on the music he was already known for, Roach spent the 1980s and 1990s finding new forms of musical expression and performance. He performed a [[concerto]] with the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]]. He wrote for and performed with the Walter White gospel choir and the John Motley Singers. He also performed with dance companies, including the [[Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater]], the [[Dianne McIntyre]] Dance Company, and the [[Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company]]. He surprised his fans by performing in a [[hip hop]] concert featuring [[Fab Five Freddy]] and the New York Break Dancers. Roach expressed the insight that there was a strong kinship between the work of these young black artists and the art he had pursued all his life.<ref name=":0" />

Though Roach played with many types of ensembles, he always continued to play jazz. He performed with the Beijing Trio, with pianist [[Jon Jang]] and [[erhu]] player [[Jiebing Chen|Jeibing Chen]]. His final recording, ''Friendship'', was with trumpeter [[Clark Terry]]. The two were longtime friends and collaborators in duet and quartet. Roach's final performance was at the 50th anniversary celebration of the original [[Massey Hall]] concert, with Roach performing solo on the [[hi-hat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12055|title=Friendship|date=July 25, 2003|website=All About Jazz|access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref>

In 1994, Roach appeared on [[Rush (band)|Rush]] drummer [[Neil Peart]]'s ''[[Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich|Burning for Buddy]],'' performing "The Drum Also Waltzes" Parts 1 and 2 on [[Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich|Volume 1]] of the 2-volume [[tribute album]] during the 1994 All-Star recording sessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/|title=The Friday Papers|date=August 27, 2007|website=Beachwood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222221438/http://beachwoodreporter.com/|archive-date=February 22, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref>

===Death===
[[Image:Max Roach Grave 1024.jpg|thumb|300px|The grave of Max Roach]] In the early 2000s, Roach became less active due to the onset of [[hydrocephalus]]-related complications.

Roach died of complications related to [[Alzheimer's]] and [[dementia]] in Manhattan in the early morning of August 16, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/16/arts/music/16cnd-roach.html?ei=5090&en=48adf94b947bc225&ex=1344916800&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|title=Max Roach, Master of Modern Jazz, Dies at 83|last=Keepnews|first=Peter|date=August 16, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 17, 2007}}</ref> He was survived by five children: sons Daryl and Raoul, and daughters Maxine, Ayo, and Dara. More than 1,900 people attended his funeral at [[Riverside Church]] on August 24, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/25/arts/music/25roach.html|title=Max Roach Is Remembered for Music and More|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 25, 2007}}</ref> He was interred at the [[Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx|Woodlawn Cemetery]] in [[The Bronx]].

In a funeral tribute to Roach, then-[[Lieutenant Governor of New York]] [[David Paterson]] compared the musician's courage to that of [[Paul Robeson]], [[Harriet Tubman]], and [[Malcolm X]], saying that "No one ever wrote a bad thing about Max Roach's music or his aura until 1960, when he and Charlie Mingus protested the practices of the [[Newport Jazz Festival]]."<ref name="Democracy Now-2008-03-13-Paterson: Roach Eulogy">
 {{cite news|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2008/3/13/david_paterson_invokes_paul_robeson_harriet|title=David Paterson Invokes Paul Robeson, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X in Remembrance of Jazz Legend Max Roach (Eulogy transcript)|last=Paterson|first=David|date=March 13, 2008|work=Democracy Now|access-date=March 18, 2008}}
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