About
Max Roach closes out the solos on drums with half a chorus, following John Lewis at approximately 322 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar AABA form and the key of B♭, the solo tests the player's command at high velocity. As a contrafact on "I Got Rhythm," the underlying harmony is well-trodden territory, giving the soloist a sturdy platform for creative exploration. 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 half-chorus drum solo, propelled by his revolutionary concept of melodic drumming, brings the performance to a thrilling climax.
Max Roach was 23 to 24 years old at the time.
Comments
What do you think of this solo?