The
Max Roach volume in Candid’s compilation series features him in four different sessions between August of 1960 and April of 1961, recording historic works such as “Freedom Day,” written with
Oscar Brown, Jr. (
Abbey Lincoln handles the vocals) and
Kenny Dorham’s “Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah,” with the great trumpet master himself and
Benny Bailey swinging hard in the front line. There are a couple of sessions with
Eric Dolphy that also feature
Booker Little,
Julian Priester, bassist
Art Davis,
Lincoln,
Mal Waldron, and
Coleman Hawkins (“When Malindy Sings” and “In the Red”) as well as a session with
Little,
Priester, Walter Benson on tenor, and
Peck Morrison on bass that feature
Roach drumming with the great
Jo Jones (“Cliff Walk”). Finally, there’s “A New Day” with
Don Friedman on piano with all but
Lincoln and
Hawkins in the band. This is an excellent overview that sonically sounds a bit better than some of the other individual artist albums on Candid issued previously. ~ Thom Jurek