== Biography == Arguably one of the most important drummer ever, '''Maxwell Lemuel Roach''' began his career pioneering bebop drums play (at the same time [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/48eaf8a1-6e44-488c-a91a-736867f1ba50.html|Kenny Clarke] did). This step ahead led him to record a number of historical sessions with [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/c7356af9-9ea6-4a78-a55b-c73775716312.html|Charlie Parker], [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/8e8c7417-c905-46b1-b42a-5260b4274ed4.html|Thelonious Monk], [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/5c8cb181-38fe-4300-8153-650b2ed0258f.html|Coleman Hawkins], [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/dbc5809c-7837-4b6f-961e-340d64fbb41c.html|Bud Powell] and other giants of the time during the 50's. Then involved with [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/f3b8e107-abe8-4743-b6a3-4a4ee995e71f.html|Charles Mingus] and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/2a291f34-73cb-40c5-b721-eab1269c7ba8.html|Clifford Brown], his already important career reached new heights in the early 60's with landmark records, either sideman or leader, such as [http://musicbrainz.org/album/9e0797d2-a1ce-4841-92d7-dac5706e0686.html|Money Jungle] and [http://musicbrainz.org/release/52f0983f-0598-469e-a328-3305b12e4343.html|We Insist! Freedom Now]. Married with [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/ce8cbced-8719-47b9-b728-6024e8b19b15.html|Abbey Lincoln] with whom he recorded a number of times, '''Roach''' is also known to be one of the few bop drummers making intrusions into ''Free Jazz'': the well-named [http://musicbrainz.org/release/c18d370b-014d-48a0-9433-74c37e37cd51.html|Historic Concert] is one of the most remarkable example, featuring '''Roach''' in a two hour killing duet with [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/0d06bb57-c3b6-4188-9b73-826c41c3e29e.html|Cecil Taylor]. == Listener guide == Newcomers are encouraged to start with the all-star [http://musicbrainz.org/album/9e0797d2-a1ce-4841-92d7-dac5706e0686.html|Money Jungle] emphasizing '''Roach''' subtle bop playing - this release also is one of the finest jazz record ever. People looking for a solid reference covering the hard-bop years are encouraged to (try to) dig the excellent (and rare) Mosaic seven discs boxset [http://musicbrainz.org/release/1d7d4271-5df8-48f7-a24d-d45689c48a39.html|The Complete Mercury Max Roach Plus Four Sessions].