MR

Max Roach

22quotes

Max Roach


Full Name and Common Aliases


Max Roach was born Emerson Joseph Maxwell Roach on January 10, 1924, in Newland, North Carolina. He is commonly known as "The Father of Modern Jazz Drumming" or simply Max Roach.

Birth and Death Dates


January 10, 1924 – August 16, 2007

Nationality and Profession(s)


American Musician (drummer, composer, bandleader), educator

Early Life and Background


Max Roach grew up in a musical family. His father, Peter Roach, was a farmer who owned a small farm with a barn that served as a community gathering place for locals to share music. It was there that Max first learned to play the drums at the age of six. He began performing professionally while still a teenager and moved to New York City in 1942 to pursue his musical ambitions.

Major Accomplishments


Max Roach is widely regarded for his innovative approach to jazz drumming, which emphasized melodic and rhythmic complexity over traditional timekeeping roles. His accomplishments include:

Co-founding the pioneering bebop group "Miles Davis Quintet" with Miles Davis (1949)
 Collaborating on numerous classic recordings with musicians such as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Sonny Rollins
Pioneering the use of polyrhythms in jazz, influencing generations of drummers
 Composing music for film scores and ballets

Notable Works or Actions


Some notable works by Max Roach include:

"Freedom Now Suite" (1960), a powerful anti-apartheid statement and one of his most enduring compositions
 "We Insist! Freedom Now Suite," an album that addressed the struggles of African Americans and the Civil Rights Movement
* "Mama" (1958), showcasing his exploration of Latin rhythms

Impact and Legacy


Max Roach's innovative approach to jazz drumming, combined with his commitment to using music as a force for social change, has left an indelible mark on the world of music. His influence can be heard in the work of countless musicians across genres.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Today, Max Roach is celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to jazz drumming and composition. His commitment to creating powerful works that addressed social injustices has made him a beloved figure among fans of music and human rights advocates alike.

Quotes by Max Roach

You can’t write the same book twice. Though I’ve been in historical musical situations, I can’t go back and do that again. And though I run into artistic crises, they keep my life interesting.
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You can’t write the same book twice. Though I’ve been in historical musical situations, I can’t go back and do that again. And though I run into artistic crises, they keep my life interesting.
MR
I think that the rhythm sections, drummers in particular, are the unsuing heroes of the music. It’s the rhythm section that has changed the styles from one period to the other.
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I think that the rhythm sections, drummers in particular, are the unsuing heroes of the music. It’s the rhythm section that has changed the styles from one period to the other.
MR
I will never again play anything that does not have social significance. We American jazz musicians of African descent have proved beyond all doubt that we are master musicians of our instruments. Now what we have to do is employ our skill to tell the dramatic story of our people and what we've been through,
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I will never again play anything that does not have social significance. We American jazz musicians of African descent have proved beyond all doubt that we are master musicians of our instruments. Now what we have to do is employ our skill to tell the dramatic story of our people and what we've been through,
MR
#skills
Jazz is a democratic musical form. We take our respective instruments & collectively create a thing of beauty.
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Jazz is a democratic musical form. We take our respective instruments & collectively create a thing of beauty.
MR
#music
The American drummer is a one-man percussion orchestra.
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The American drummer is a one-man percussion orchestra.
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#men
I think that the rhythm sections, drummers in particular, are the unsuing heroes of the music. It's the rhythm section that has changed the styles from one period to the other.
"
I think that the rhythm sections, drummers in particular, are the unsuing heroes of the music. It's the rhythm section that has changed the styles from one period to the other.
MR
#thinking
Music mirrors where we should go, have gone and can go. Music is an abstraction.
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Music mirrors where we should go, have gone and can go. Music is an abstraction.
MR
#mirrors
I always resented the role of a drummer as nothing more than a subservient figure.
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I always resented the role of a drummer as nothing more than a subservient figure.
MR
#roles
You can't write the same book twice. Though I've been in historical musical situations, I can't go back and do that again. And though I run into artistic crises, they keep my life interesting.
"
You can't write the same book twice. Though I've been in historical musical situations, I can't go back and do that again. And though I run into artistic crises, they keep my life interesting.
MR
#running
My point is that we much decolonize our minds and re-name and re-define ourselves . . . In all respects, culturally, politically, socially, we must re-define ourselves and our lives, in our own terms.
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My point is that we much decolonize our minds and re-name and re-define ourselves . . . In all respects, culturally, politically, socially, we must re-define ourselves and our lives, in our own terms.
MR
#names
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