Max Roach's percussion ensemble M'Boom had expanded from a septet to a tentet by the time of these 1984 studio sessions; the best-known of the musicians joining the veteran drummer are
Joe Chambers,
Freddie Waits, and
Ray Mantilla. The songs are all originals written by either
Roach,
Chambers, Warren Smith, or
Roy Brooks, while each of them tends to rely on long vamps to provide a foundation for the soloists.
Roach's "Street Dance" is obviously based upon
Miles Davis' "Freddie the Freeloader," though there are no liner notes or credits to the trumpeter. The remaining works are interesting but don't have particularly memorable melodies. While listening to the mix of different instruments from track to track is fun, this CD is better savored a track or two at a time than trying to absorb the whole thing in one sitting. ~ Ken Dryden