Drummer/composer and Modern Jazz pioneer Max Roach did two wonderful albums for the Impulse label and as second tribute to Black History Month we present the first of these two recordings called "Percussion: Bitter Sweet". As is common knowledge, Max Roach's music became more political in about 1959 when he stated that he would never play or record anything that didn't have political or social significance as regards the African-American and civil rights. Max Roach's Ensemble consists of his then wife Abbey Lincoln on vocal on the first two tunes. The instrumentalists are trumpeter Booker Little, tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, trombonist Julian Priester, and Eric Dolphy on alto saxophone, flute and bass clarinet, Mal Waldron on piano, Art Davis on bass and where heard percussionist Carlos "Patato" Valdes (conga drum) and Carlos "Totico" Eugenio (percussion and timbales). There are six compositions on the record and the music is militant, powerful and inspired. Percussion: Bitter Sweet is a classic.

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