Max Roach was a drummer, percussionist and composer. He was the first jazz musician to receive the MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius Grant,’ in 1988. F
January 25, 2009

Max Roach was a drummer, percussionist and composer. He was the first jazz musician to receive the MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius Grant,’ in 1988. For the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation he composed, along with Oscar Brown, the ‘Freedom Now” Suite. The album cover of ‘We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite’ recalls the diner sit-ins of the sixties.

Eddie Kahn, bass; Clifford Jordan, saxophone; Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, piano. Abbey Lincoln sings ‘Freedom Day’ from the suite.

Can you help us out?

For nearly 20 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.

Discussion

We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Please refer to our Terms of Service for information on our posting policy.
Mastodon