Max Roach - 1984 - Survivors

Max Roach

1984

Survivors

01. Survivors 21:28

02. The Third Eye 2:10

03. Billy The Kid 2:57

04. Jas Me 3:37

05. The Drum Also Waltzes 3:18

06. Sassy Max (Self Portrait) 3:20

07. The Smoke That Thunders 5:47

Cello – Christopher Finckel

Drums – Max Roach

Viola – Louise Schulman

Violin – Donald Bauch, Guillermo Figueroa

Drummer Max Roach was fond of playing with string quartets in the latter part of his career, and in this case he is with one sans his regular working foursome. The cerebral nature of this music cannot be discounted, nor can the interplay and counterpoint between the drummer and string players. The lengthy title track best exemplifies this concept, which is carried throughout the project. But the majority of this recording consists of drum solos, all earmarked by the signature drum sound and complex polyrhythmic drive that only Roach can claim.While not as successful as other like-minded recordings, this serves as a powerful reminder of why Roach's drumming was so strong and visceral even in his older years, and how fertile his imagination continued to be. An unusual record – one that has Max Roach handling a fair bit of percussion, and working with a hip string quartet too!