Max Roach--Deeds....Not Words

Gary Delligatti · July-12th-2004, 09:30 PM

I downloaded this gem some time ago off of E-Music. It features:
Max Roach--Drums
George Coleman, Tenor Sax
Booker Little, trumpet
Ray Draper, Tuba
Art Davis/Oscar Pettiford, Bass

Recorded @ Reeves Sound Studio; NY, NY 9/4/58
Produced by Orin Keepnews

What this CD reaffirmed for me was how much I enjoy the work of Booker Little and his trumpet. In this piece, he goes through the changes very fluidly seemingly flying through some of the pieces. I believe that he is a truely underated muscian.

I don't know if it was the bit rate that I downloaded it on, or if it was undermiked, or what but I could not seem to get the richness of the tuba to come through. It may be that it just isn't a remastered copy, that is the only disappointming part for me.

If you all got this little gem stashed away somewhere, give it a spin, I would be curious to find out what you all think about it.

Nate Dorward · July-12th-2004, 10:09 PM

I've always found it very hard to hear the tuba on this disc, yes, except for Draper's solo on his own tune "Filide". But a professional tuba player tells me the problem is simply that Draper wasn't much of a tuba player & so his sound wasn't so hot.

Bill Barton · July-12th-2004, 11:49 PM

I have this on vinyl and find the sound to be pretty much the same as you describe in that media as well. I've always liked this one a great deal, although it's certainly not in the *top ten* Max albums. Yeah, Booker Little was a master! Very, very nice playing from him here...

JiminHouston · July-23rd-2004, 01:15 PM

I have always liked this one a great deal, primarily, as others have pointed out, for Booker. Draper's contributions are marginal anyway, as far as I'm concerned. Off-topic, I know (and I've never heard it myself), but I have heard Draper's recording as a leader described as one of the worst jazz recordings of all time ...

Nate Dorward · July-26th-2004, 02:01 AM

Hasn't it got John Coltrane on it (if you're thinking about his Prestige disc)? If so then it's hard to believe it's exactly a complete waste of time.

I gather the guy also did another date which has a title like Rice and Beans. -- Anyway, it's a sad story I gather--Draper was a troubled guy, died young, just never quite got it musically together despite the encouragement of heavyweights like Roach & Coltrane, &c.