Customer Reviews

Drums Unlimited - Ltd

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This is one Roach's best works as a leader. It doesn't hit you over the head with originality as much as Freedom Now Suite, or smoke like his work as a co-leader with Clifford Brown, but its nuances are infinite. Most impressive are Roach's three solo drum endeavors: "The Drum Also Waltzes," "For Big Sid" (an homage to Sid Catlett), and the title track--the term drum solo is misleading because Roach plays a "solo" piece more like a jazz pianist or guitarist--providing time, form, and even melodic inflections. The musicians on the other tracks are mostly second or third-tier musicians (other than Freddie Hubbard) but they are top-notch and turn in impressive performances, especially as a unit. St. Louis Blues is the only relatively disappointing moment, which utilizes a corny medley of styles, feels and tempi (though admittedly well played). But also worth mentioning is Nommo, an ingenious twelve minute vamp that is near the pinacle of the cool, intelectual style of late 50s/early 60s jazz composition. The piece is based around a mezmerizing, slow 7/8 repeating rhythm section figure. But rather than play the solos in strict form, the soloist is free to blow over the "A" section as long as he wants--when he's done, he signals the band by playing a figure from the melody, and they go to a tag and then drop out. Now the soloist again has as much time as he wants to blow until he hits the melody again and they go back to the top. I apologize for this nerdy analysis, but it's exciting to realise what's going in this fascinating tune. Regardless, this is one of the most essential jazz recordings that isn't already on most critics' lists, and the review below shows that you don't need to be a jazz nerd to appreciate it.

I've always been appreciative of jazz, but I have to admit that I've never been very knowledgeable. This record makes me want to change that immeditely. I bought this album on vinyl when I was rummaging through some records at a local shop. It was for $3 so I figured, what the heck?

I was captivated from the first moment Max Roach starts playing on "The Drum Also Waltzes." He creates a magnificent drum pattern in 3/4 time that almost speaks. It reminds me somewhat of listening to West African talking drums.

Again, I know little of jazz, but I know talent when I hear it and I have to surmise that Max Roach is among the greatest drummers to ever tap a snare. I know that Max Roach has some records that he did with Duke Ellington. I'm itching to get those too.