The World of Sound
is Infinite
The Legacy
of Max Roach
A Timeline of Rhythm & Resistance
1940s–1950s:
Foundations of Expression
1944–1949 – Plays in Charlie Parker’s quintet during the rise of Bebop. Max brings new complexity and freedom to rhythm, laying groundwork for jazz as an instrument of personal and political expression.
1952 – Co-founds Debut Records with Charles Mingus — one of the first artist-owned jazz labels, aimed at giving musicians creative and financial control.
1960:
The Freedom Now Suite
1960 – Releases We Insist! Freedom Now Suite with vocalist Abbey Lincoln.
A landmark protest album addressing civil rights, African independence movements, and the Black American experience.
1970s:
Amplifying Black Voices
Max Roach forms the Max Roach Double Quartet, combining jazz and classical string quartets — often used to address themes of struggle, liberation, and Pan-African identity.
Advocates for more representation of African-American voices in classical and jazz institutions.
THE MAX ROACH QUINTET
BEBOP ERA
Max Roach & Charlie Parker (1945)
CLIFFORD BROWN
Recordings with Clifford Brown (1954–56)
CIVIL RIGHTS MUSIC
We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (1960)