Todd and Tyler Unauthorized Forums

**ob1** · 08-19-2007

Ask who the absolute greats of jazz are, youll get a few short words: "Bird," "Trane," "Miles," "Dizz" ... "Roach."

Few did more for jazz as an art-form than Max Roach, who died August 16th at age 83. Normally the drummer is the nameless guy in the back, the one who just keeps the beat while the "real musicians" do the actual work. But Roach showed everyone what a sham that is. A virtuoso in his own right, a composer, an innovator and revolutionary, Roach was the last survivor of a string of jazz greats from an era that changed the face of American music.

Born in North Carolina in 1924, his family moved to Brooklyn when he was four. Before too long he was already proving himself something of a prodigy, and at age ten was playing drums in the church choir. By the time his teenage years were over he had played briefly with Duke Ellington's orchestra and participated in jam sessions with Charlie Parker that many say helped invent the genre known as bebop.

Roach was "one of the first American musicians to understand the complex polyrhythms of Africa" said longtime friend and collaborator Quincy Jones. In every group and orchestra he played in, he brought that complexity with him. His drumming frequently engaged in a "conversation" as one writer put it, with the other instruments. Previous jazz drummers had used the bass drum to provide the rhythm. Roach, along with Kenny Clarke, moved it to the ride cymbal. It was a move that allowed greater freedom and improvisation for the whole group, and would define bebop and its successors.

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**Thender** · 08-19-2007

Goodbye Roach!

lilyvon schtupp · 08-21-2007

i'm bustin out the charlie parker tryin to catch those crazy beats

08-19-2007	#1
ob1 Jedi SlaveBoy Listens: Z92 - Mornings Join Date: May 2005 Age: 38 Posts: 7,203 Throcks: 2,743.61 Thanks: 1,356 Thanked 3,155 Times in 617 Posts	The Beat Has Stopped Ask who the absolute greats of jazz are, youll get a few short words: "Bird," "Trane," "Miles," "Dizz" ... "Roach." Few did more for jazz as an art-form than Max Roach, who died August 16th at age 83. Normally the drummer is the nameless guy in the back, the one who just keeps the beat while the "real musicians" do the actual work. But Roach showed everyone what a sham that is. A virtuoso in his own right, a composer, an innovator and revolutionary, Roach was the last survivor of a string of jazz greats from an era that changed the face of American music. Born in North Carolina in 1924, his family moved to Brooklyn when he was four. Before too long he was already proving himself something of a prodigy, and at age ten was playing drums in the church choir. By the time his teenage years were over he had played briefly with Duke Ellington's orchestra and participated in jam sessions with Charlie Parker that many say helped invent the genre known as bebop. Roach was "one of the first American musicians to understand the complex polyrhythms of Africa" said longtime friend and collaborator Quincy Jones. In every group and orchestra he played in, he brought that complexity with him. His drumming frequently engaged in a "conversation" as one writer put it, with the other instruments. Previous jazz drummers had used the bass drum to provide the rhythm. Roach, along with Kenny Clarke, moved it to the ride cymbal. It was a move that allowed greater freedom and improvisation for the whole group, and would define bebop and its successors. --- Full Article: ZNet \|Race \| The Beat Has Stopped Source: Welcome To ZNet __________________ Ban the lizards!

08-19-2007	#2
Thender Always riding the ragged edge of disaster. Listens: Z92 - Mornings Join Date: May 2005 Age: 38 Posts: 24,107 Throcks: 9,385.84 Thanks: 14,833 Thanked 17,105 Times in 4,229 Posts	Re: The Beat Has Stopped Goodbye Roach! __________________ Shenandoah, American Legion Post #88 Color Guard, State Color Guard Champions for 2008 - 2009 Two in the mouth is worth one in the bush.

08-21-2007	#3
lilyvon schtupp i ride the short bus because i'm Listens: I don't listen Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: counciltucky Posts: 1,727 Throcks: 2,723.58 Thanks: 72 Thanked 1,980 Times in 374 Posts	Re: The Beat Has Stopped i'm bustin out the charlie parker tryin to catch those crazy beats __________________ "We will NOT allow you to blaspheme The Monkees on this show!"- Todd

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