Editing Max Roach (section)

===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>