Max Roach – +4

Informations sur la matrice (Runout A, Variant 1): EMA 6372 481 1 380 SIDIS ⋀1
Informations sur la matrice (Runout B, Variant 1): EMA 6372 481 2 380 SIDIS ⋀1

This is a fun, upbeat, rollicking good session! Lots of room for folks to stretch out and solo. Excellent sounding mono recording; love the mic-ing that makes solos really standout. Of course, dead silent Japanese pressing. Highly, highly recommended!

An absolute killer jazz bomb. A star studded line-up, nicely lengthy tracks and one massive solo after the other. Grossly overlooked, this gem truly deserves way, way more attention. Although many of us would like to own an original vinyl copy, I have to tell you that it won't hurt to buy the CD version as well, as it contains three outstanding bonus cuts: It Don't Mean A Thing, Love Letters and Minor Trouble; they're worth the extra buck. The original six album tracks already kick-ass, but those three additional tracks will add a few extra cherries on your cake. The solos that I consider the most attractive, are those of Ray Bryant; the way he hammers away his solos on the piano are just super funky, they all swing so fantastically good, just can't sit still when it's his turn. Don't get me wrong, 'cause Rollins, Dorham, Morrow and Roach all deliver the goods in tight, smashing fashion, but boy does Bryant know how to get a good thing going. Scott Joplin occasionally shines through Bryant's way of playing and his deceivingly easy combinations between the left and right hand just keep you on the edge of your seat. Anyway, as I said: this is superb piece of work. Go get it, you won't regret it.