 |
Max RoachJazz percussionist and composer, one of the most influential musicians of the bebop era
Date of Birth: 10.01.1924
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Max Roach
Max Roach was a jazz percussionist and composer, one of the most influential musicians of the bebop era. He was born in North Carolina in 1924 and moved to New York with his family in 1928. Roach began playing drums at the age of ten and at just 16 years old, he had the opportunity to perform with Duke Ellington's orchestra.
Influential Career
From 1942 onwards, Roach regularly performed in Manhattan clubs, and soon he was being invited to join ensembles led by musicians such as Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker. In the mid-1950s, while working with trumpeter Clifford Brown, Roach played a crucial role in the emergence of a new jazz style called hard bop.
Recordings and Achievements
Roach participated in the studio recordings of groundbreaking albums, including Miles Davis' "Birth of the Cool" and Duke Ellington's "Money Jungle." Throughout his career, Roach received numerous awards and honors. He was granted honorary doctorates from eight universities, became a Knight of the Legion of Honor, and was a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the "genius grant."
