Record Reviews

MAX ROACH ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1038 (Barcode: 8052405141859) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 - 1986 Released: 2015 This superb Box Set collects recordings by the iconic American drummer / composer Max RoachFind albums by this artist released on the Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label labels. It includes five (one double) albums, which present Roach as a versatile performer and composer, among them the two legendary duo albums, one with reedman Anthony BraxtonFind albums by this artist ("Birth And RebirthFind albums with this title") and the other with pianist Cecil TaylorFind albums by this artist ("Historic ConcertsFind albums with this title"), which to this day are considered paradigmatic as far as the "Art Of The Duo" and Free Jazz / Improvised Music are concerned. Another album finds him playing with only a string quartet, creating a brilliant Jazz-Classical Fusion, or playing solo drums ("SurvivorsFind albums with this title"). Yet another album finds him as a member of the all-percussion tentet M`BoomFind albums by this artist ("CollageFind albums with this title") and the last one finds him leading his double quartet with trumpeter Cecil BridgewaterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Odean PopeFind albums by this artist and bassist Tyrone BrownFind albums by this artist and a string quartet ("Bright MomentsFind albums with this title"). Almost all the music was composed or co-composed by Roach. Together these albums present some of the most innovative, adventurous and groundbreaking music created between late 1970s and mid 1980s and are a wonderful document of the genius of Max Roach, who was not only a virtuosic drummer but most importantly a complete musician and a visionary. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 11/04/2020Posted: 11/04/2020

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