Background
ROACH, Maxwell was born on January 10, 1924 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States. Son of Alphonzo Roach and Cressie (nee Saunders) Roach.
ROACH, Maxwell was born on January 10, 1924 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States. Son of Alphonzo Roach and Cressie (nee Saunders) Roach.
Student, Manhattan School Music, New York City. Doctor of Music (honorary), New England Conservatory Music, 1982.
Professor, of Music, University of Massachusetts. Specialized in percussion instruments, with Charlie Parker 1946-1948, later with Thelonius Monk, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, etc. Co-leader Max Roach-Clifford Brown Quintet 1954-1956.
Appearances at Paris Jazz Festival 1949, Newport Jazz Festival 1972. Composer and choreographer Freedom Now suite. Officier des Arts et des Lettres 1989.
Received Best.
Adapted use of tympani in jazz. Musician specializing percussion instruments. With Charlie Parker, 1946-1948, later appeared with Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie.Co-leader Max Roach-Clifford Brown Quintet. With Sonny Rollins, Harold Land, 1954-1956, later with Booker Little, Ray Bryant, Eric Dolphy. Appearances at Paris Jazz Festival, 1949, Newport Jazz Festival, 1972.Composer: integration of jazz and dance Freedom Now suite. Albums include: Percussion Bitter Sweet, It's Time, Drums Unlimited, Speak Brother Speak, The Loadstar, Conversations, Long as You're Living, Survivors, The Long March, Jazz in 3/4 Time, Scott Free, To the Max!, 1991, It's Time, 1996, The New Orchestra of Boston and The So What Brass Quintet, 1996 (with Dizzy Gillespie) Max and Dizzy: Paris 1989. Producer, director and choreographer.
Member Jazz Artists Guild Inc. (organizer), American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (Honorary), 1992.
Married Mildred Wilkinson, January 14, 1949 (divorced). Children: Daryl, Maxine. Married Abbey Lincoln, March 3, 1962 (divorced).