CiTR

By 1960 drummer Max Roach had been for years a keen student of politics and civil rights and as a black American he realized that his mission was to combine politics and his music. He would do this without compromising the quality of his music in any way. Roach was one of the music's greatest drummers and a pioneer of Modern Jazz.The Freedom Now Suite was his first fully political statement and it features his ensemble and his vocalist Abbey Lincoln. Roach wrote the music and Oscar Brown Jr. wrote the words. The band includes Mr.Roach on drums with Booker Little on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Walter Benton on tenor saxophone and James Schenck on bass.The first three compositions deal with the USA and opens with "Driva' Man" and the guest soloist on this track is the great Coleman Hawkins. "Freedom Day" is by the band. Track three is Mr. Roach and Miss Lincoln only in a three part suite. Part 2 moves to Africa and Michael Olatunji is added on drums and vocal plus two other percussionists in "All Africa" and the final selection is in memory of the notorious Shapeville Massacre and called "Tears For Johannesburg". All of this was recorded in August and Seoptember 1960. It remains a pivotal recording in the long career of Mr. Max Roach and to this day is a powerful statement.