Customer Reviews

Friendship

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you listened to this disc and your only response is to suggest that Clark Terry and Max Roach have lost their fire, then I'd politely suggest that your CD might have been quietly replaced with Folgers Crystals. Listening to these two guys with 152 years between them, it's impossible not to tap your foot and laugh at the Rolling Stones as a bunch of over-the-hill geezers.

This ain't polite jazz. Roach hits the snare hard as ever, and Terry's lines are pure bop. About half the disc consists of duets between the leaders, and their dialogue is as heavy as anything you'll hear from Chris Potter or Keith Jarrett. Roach takes "Lil Max" as a solo, and Terry plays alone on the ballads "When I Fall In Love" and "The Nearness of You." Although the personnel is listed as a quartet with pianist Don Friedman and bassist Marcus McLaurine, only three tunes feature the full band: "Let's Cool One," "But Beautiful," and "Makin' Whoopee."

Like much of Sony's recent jazz, this album received little fanfare and was mostly overlooked; and since it was manufactured by a major label, the result is that supply overwhelmed demand and you can now buy a copy for pennies. You should. It'll cost a fraction of what you'd spend at a jazz club and it'll take 46 minutes from your life, and it'll be well worth both.

I have no beef with jazz musicians losing their chops. If I wanted to listen to Max Roach play like he did in his twenties I'd listen to some old Charlie Parker sides.
This is a different kind of session. This is a laid back session with two masters having fun riffing off each other. Not classic or important, but undeniably cool. As to the reviewer who couldn't even hear the piano and bass on some of the tracks, THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE DUETS, Batman!
Nothing groundbreaking, but still something special.

This record is great, really you should just listen to it. But, if you can't listen to music if it's not fast and loud like the reviewer from San Diego....then maybe this album isn't for you. Mr. San Diego wasn't listening very closely if he came to the conclusion that the musicians were "falling asleep". This album is something you really should hear.

Let me first of all state that I LOVE Max Roach's work over the years. He and Clark are legendary! Unfortunately, even legends grow old and their chops fade away. This recording is the worst thing I've bought in recent memory (and I buy a few CDs a week). I couldn't help but feel that I had been taken by Columbia Records with this one. Neither of the leaders are ever close to bringing this session to life. They sound like, well, very old men. To make matters worse the piano and bass player must have fallen asleep in the studio. They are not very supportive on most and nonexistant on other tracks. It seems that the only tracks that held any sort of interest for the players were when max was using brushes. That only accounts for 2 or 3 tracks though. Save your money for some other old men that can still play like Roy Haynes or Elvin Jones. Same age and still able to keep up with the young cats.

A lovely, laid-back session by two legends clearly enjoying each other's company.

I don't usually find myself attarcted to older men, but he's hot for hsi age! And his playing is wonderful, thsi is a great jazz cd!!! Wow, he's just so cute!!!