Composer of the Week

Max Roach (1924-2007)


Listen Later

This week, Kate Molleson explores the life and work of a musical giant – drummer and composer Max Roach – in the company of writer and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre. Together they trace Roach’s extraordinary journey: from his early days at the heart of bebop alongside Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, through his pioneering role as a bandleader, his political activism during the civil rights era, and his later innovations in percussion and collaboration. Roach’s story is one of constant reinvention as performer, composer and activist, shaping jazz and beyond for more than half a century.

Music includes:

Dr Free-Zee (from Max Roach +4)

Joy Spring (from Clifford Brown and Max Roach)
Bu Dee Daht (from Coleman Hawkins: Rainbow Mist)
Salt Peanuts (from Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker: Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945)
Ko-Ko (from Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy and Dial Master Takes)
Bird Gets the Worm (from Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy and Dial Master Takes)
Move (from Miles Davis: The Complete Birth of the Cool)
Cherokee (from Jazz at Massey Hall)
Cou Manchi-Cou (from Max Roach Quartet, featuring Hank Mobley)
Maximum (from In the Beginning)
Daahoud (from Clifford Brown and Max Roach)
Sandu (from Study in Brown)
Take the A Train (from Study in Brown)
Fleurette Africain (from Money Jungle)
Driva’man (from We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite)
Freedom Day (from We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite)
Garvey’s Ghost (from Percussion Bitter Sweet)
Lonesome Lover (from It’s Time: Max Roach, his Chorus and Orchestra)
The Drum Also Waltzes (from Drums Unlimited)
Libra (from Members Don’t Git Weary)
Let Thy People Go (from Lift Every Voice and Sing)
Joshua (from Lift Every Voice and Sing)
A Quiet Place (from Collage)
Double Delight (from Bright Moments)
Spirit Possession (from Birth and Rebirth)
Love is a Many Splendored Thing (from Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street)

Presented by Kate Molleson.
Produced by Martin Williams for BBC Audio Wales & West.

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Max Roach (1924-2007) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002mb7w.

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Composer of the WeekBy BBC Radio 3

  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2

2

228 ratings


More shows like Composer of the Week

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,718 Listeners

The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

The LRB Podcast

301 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

378 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,066 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,474 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,809 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,880 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,784 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

F1: Chequered Flag by BBC Radio 5 Live

F1: Chequered Flag

722 Listeners

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

347 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

233 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

161 Listeners

Record Review Podcast by BBC Radio 3

Record Review Podcast

46 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

43 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

74 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,223 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

737 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,604 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

101 Listeners

Past Present Future by David Runciman

Past Present Future

342 Listeners