Record Reviews

MAX ROACH ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE VOLUME 2 CAM JAZZ 1044 (Barcode: 8052405142535) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1979 - 1985 Released: 2016 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 six albums, which present Roach leading his quartet with trumpeter Cecil BridgewaterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Odean PopeFind albums by this artist and bassists Calvin HillFind albums by this artist or Tyrone BrownFind albums by this artist ("Pictures In A FrameFind albums with this title", "In The LightFind albums with this title" and "Scott FreeFind albums with this title") and his double quartet which included a string quartet ("Live At Vielharmonie MunichFind albums with this title" and "Easy WinnersFind albums with this title"), and finally a Jazz And Poetry project based on the poems by Bruce WrightFind albums by this artist, (Afro-American poet and jurist), which features his quartet expanded to a septet by saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Tony ScottFind albums by this artist and guitarist Tommaso LamaFind albums by this artist ("It`s Christmas AgainFind albums with this title"). Almost all the music was composed by Roach or Bridgewater. Together these albums present the most productive period (late 1970s to mid 1980s) of the Post-bop career of Max Roach, while leading a stable quartet, recording frequently and composing constantly new music. His brilliant technique and innovative rhythmic approach are well documented here, proving his unique status in the history of American Jazz and his awareness of the social / political issues of the day. 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

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend