Max Roach died today, he was 83. I had the good fortune to see him play when he was young, say about 60. He had another drummer, sorry I forget your name, that played with him, backed HIM up, another drummer. He had a drum kit he sat at and another one he stood at for timpani and cymbal work. The kind of show that either inspires you to take up the instrument or go home and burn your vintage Gretsch jazz kit in the fireplace.
His resume includes gigs with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Charlie Mingus. One of the architects of bebop, he just stayed curious with music all his life. A bit of luck doesn't hurt either. His first big role came when the drummer for Duke Ellington got sick, and he filled in for 3 nights. I'd be wearing Depends.
And oh yeah, Elvis died 30 years ago today.
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