Max Roach
Drums Solo on
Bird Feathers

About

Max Roach closes out the solos on drums with one chorus, following Tommy Potter at approximately 229 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 12-bar Blues form and the key of B♭, the solo navigates the chord changes with purpose. Coming last in the solo order, Roach has the task of building on everything that came before while steering the performance back toward the closing head. Roach's drum solo, in particular, demonstrates his pioneering approach to melodic drumming over form. The lively tempo energizes the improvisation and encourages fleet phrasing.

Max Roach was 22 to 23 years old at the time.