AMERICAN MASTERY
Dear Friend,
My family and I are pleased to announce the PBS American Masters premiere of the documentary, MAX ROACH: The Drum Also Waltzes (Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro, directors and producers). ?
Son of the Great Depression and the Great Migration, Max (1924-2007) was a virtuoso percussionist, composer, and bandleader.? ?
His talents nurtured and deeply-rooted in our history and culture;
his unequivocal human rights stand exacting a hefty price paid with extraordinary discipline and sacrifice;
his masterwork, “The Freedom NOW Suite,” revered throughout the African diaspora as its authentic cry and outcry;
his body of work expressed the intellect of his generation and gave rise to the next. ?
Of America’s contradictions and its degradation of African American culture, said Max: “Jazz is a four-letter word.”
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Of his music, said Max, too: "I am an American and the drum set is one of the few instruments native to this country.? This is a democratic nation and jazz is a democratic music in which we all express ourselves as individuals and cooperate for the overall good. That's good enough for the bandstand and it is good enough for the world. In music, you can make a dream come to life as a reality of design and feeling. Democracy is a dream of being able to do it better someday. I have never stopped dreaming." ?
MAX ROACH: The Drum Also Waltzes debuts as #MaxRoach100 centennial celebrations roll out through year-end 2024.? For events and updates, visit the official family website: MaxRoach.com.
AND YES, THERE’S MORE . . .
From the Library of Congress:? On January 27, 2014, LOC “staff and the family of Max Roach came to the Library to celebrate the pioneering jazz drummer, composer, educator and activist. The program included an overview of the recently acquired Max Roach papers and a glimpse at some of its rare treasures. Participating in the event were Roach's wife Janus Adams, his children (pictured above L-R) Daryl, Maxine, Raoul, Dara and Ayo; and poet Sonia Sanchez.” ?
Learn more about Max’s collection and our collaboration on his re-imagined “Freedom NOW Suite” here. ?
Stream MAX ROACH: The Drum Also Waltzes through November 3, 2023 at 11:59pm EDT and learn more about the PBS American Masters’ presentation here.
Founder, iLightStudios. Chief Composer, SupernaturalSounds. Documentary Filmmaker, Riverkids.
1 年This looks Amazing. Thank you so much for this. Max has not gotten nearly enough credit for his influence on modern music. But it’s his ethos, his soul and vision, that may deserve the highest praise. This quote in your article makes that so clear: “This is a democratic nation and jazz is a democratic music in which we all express ourselves as individuals and cooperate for the overall good. That's good enough for the bandstand and it is good enough for the world.” I agree Max. I agree.