A significant recording in the long distinguished history of Modern Jazz pioneer, drummer extraordinaire Max Roach. Today, January 10 is Mr. Roach's Birthday and The Jazz Show celebrates this event by presenting the album "Max Roach Plus Four" recorded in September 1956.. This was Max's fist recording after the tragic end to the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet. Brown and the band's pianist, Richard Powell, were killed in a car accident in June 26, 1956. After a period of recovery from this trauma which also affected the whole Jazz community, Mr. Roach reformed the band under his name and kept tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins and bassist George Morrow. Rollins was finally being acknowledged as the leading new voice of the tenor saxophone and Morrow was one of the strongest bassists in Jazz and one who could keep up with Mr. Roach and the furious tempos that he loved. Trumpeter Kenny Dorham was the very worthy replacement for Clifford Brown and he shines on this album. Ray Bryant, from Philadelphia was a great replacement for Powell and was the first of many fine pianists in this band until Mr. Roach stopped using piano players in the late 50's. The album is inspired and energetic and is a great milestone in the recorded legacy of Mr. Max Roach. Happy Birthday Max!

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