Today our Jazz Feature celebrates the Birthday of one of the pioneers of Modern Jazz and it's leading drummer, Maxwell Lemuel Roach. Max Roach was born in North Carolina on Jan 10, 1924 and raised in New York. He lived to 83, passing away on August 16,2007. Max had formed one of the leading bands of the 1950's with trumpeter Clifford Brown. They toured and recorded some iconic records but tragedy struck in June of 1956 and Brown and the band's pianist/arranger Richard Powell died in a car accident on their way to a gig. After a suitable period of mourning and a commitment by the band's saxophone star, Sonny Rollins and the band's bassist George Morrow, Roach reformed the band with stellar trumpeter Kenny Dorham and pianist Ray Bryant. Max Roach's first album after the tragedy was this one, "Max Roach Plus Four". It is a wonderful date and demonstrates the new found chemistry and cohesion in this band. Six tunes are featured, 2 originals by Roach and one by George Russell and one by Dizzy Gillespie and a ballad. Happy Birthday Mr. Roach!

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