Personnel:
Max Roach (d), Booker Little (tp), George Coleman (ts), Ray Draper (tuba), Eddie Baker, Tommy Flanagan (p), Bob Cranshaw, Art Davis (b)
Reference: JC 1010
Bar code: 8427328510103
In 1958 Max Roach one of the most outstanding and innovative drummers of his time, and a significant figure in the history of jazz decided to create a new quintet with young jazz musicians. The front line featured two outstanding new players from Memphis, Tennessee: 23-year-old tenor sax George Coleman (who joined Miles Davis group in 1963) and 19-year-old trumpet player Booker Little (who, unfortunately, would die in 1961 of uremia). Ray Draper, an 18-year-old tuba player from New York, also joined the quintet soon after its inception; and Art Davis, double-bassist, 24, from Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) were the last components of what became one of the most powerful hard-bop quintets in history, the Max Roach Plus Four.
The group is basically the same in all the sessions, except for the use of piano (by Eddie Baker or Tommy Flanagan) in two dates, and trombone (by Julian Priester) in another.
This 3-CD set gathers all the American recordings the group made between June 1958 and January 1959, and showcases one of the most overlooked periods in Roachs remarkable jazz career. As bonus tracks we have included three alternate takes recorded exclusively for the mono version of the first LP, and the only performance made by the group on one well-nown TV show. This edition was originally released in 7 LPs "Max on the Chicago Scene," "Max Roach + 4 At Newport," "Deeds, Not Words," "Award-nning Drummer," "The Many Sides of Max," "Sessions, Live," and "The Defiant Ones" (United Artists) an album recorded under the leadership of Booker Little.
36-Page booklet
Tracklisting:
CD 1
01. Shirley 6:32
02. Memo: To Maurice 7:54
03. Stella By Starlight 4:19
04. Sporty 5:48
05. My Old Flame 3:36
06. Stompin' At The Savoy 2:52
07. Villa 6:29
08. A Night In Tunisia 8:20
09. Deeds Not Words 4:27
10. Minor Mode Blues 5:30
11. Tune Up 5:24
12. Shirley (Mono Take) 6:40 *
13. Memo: To Maurice (Mono Take) 7:46 *
14. My Old Flame (Mono Take) 3:38 *
Total time: 79:03 min.
CD 2
01. Love For Sale 9:59
02. You Stepped Out Of A Dream 7:48
03. Filidé 7:07
04. It's You Or No One 4:14
05. Jodie's Cha-Cha 5:01
06. Deeds, Not Words 4:35
07. Larry-Larue 5:13
08. Conversation 3:50
09. Milestones 5:34
10. Sweet And Lovely 4:14
11. Rounder's Mood 5:21
12. Dungeon Waltz 4:28
13. Jewel's Tempo 6:36
14. Moonlight Becomes You 5:40
Total time: 79:50 min.
CD 3
01. Milano 5:10
02. Tuba De Nod 3:56
03. Variations On The Scene 5:37
04. Pies Of Quincy 3:19
05. Old Folks 4:16
06. Sadiga 6:31
07. Gandolfo's Bounce 5:41
08. Lepa 2:10
09. Connie's Bounce 5:20
10. Prelude 5:08
11. Bemsha Swing 5:28
12. Tympanalli 4:54
13. There's No You 5:43
14. A Little Sweet 3:08
15. Love For Sale 3:19 *
16. Minor Mode 4:07 *
17. The Scene Is Clean 3:55 *
Total time: 77:52 min.
(*) Bonus Tracks
Max Roach + 4
Booker Little (tp), George Coleman (ts), Ray Draper (tuba), Eddie Baker or Tommy Flanagan (p), Bob Cranshaw or Art Davis (b), Max Roach (d).
Sources:
CD 1, tracks #1-6 & 12-14 from the album
"Max on the Chicago Scene" (EmArcy 36132)
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, on June 3, 1958
CD 1, tracks #7-11 & CD 2, track #1 from
"Max Roach Plus Four At Newport" (Mercury MG36140)
Recorded live at Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island, on July 6, 1958
CD 2, tracks #2-8 from the album
"Deeds, Not Words" (Riverside RLP12-280)
Recorded in New York City, on September 4, 1958
CD 2, tracks #9-14 from the album
"Booker Little 4 & Max Roach / The Defiant Ones" (United Artists UAL4034)
Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios, New York City, October 1958
CD 3, tracks #1-7 from the album
"Award-Winning Drummer" (Time T7003)
Recorded in New York City, November 1958
CD 3, tracks #8-14 from the album
"The Many Sides of Max" (Mercury MG20911)
Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City, on January 22, 1959
CD 3, tracks #15-17 taken from the album
"Sessions, Live" (Calliope CAL3013)
Recorded at KABC TV Show "Stars of Jazz", Hollywood, on October 6, 1958
This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
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"Fine music from a group that was trying to stretch themselves beyond hard bop."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
