Max Roach is one of the inventors of the Bebop style that dominated Jazz for many years.  Together with drummers Art Blakey and Kenny Clarke one can easily say that they are the pioneers of Bebop  On quite an early age the man was already working for Duke Ellington and Count Basie, but as soon as he met people like Thelonius Monk and Dizzy Gillespie they started to perfect the so called Bebop style.

Screaming horns, jungle drums and a bass line that holds everything together that are the basic ingredients of this album. With only five tracks on this album but with a total running time of more then 60 minutes you are dragged away in the genius of this orchestra,  Max Roach, Cecil Bridgewater, Odean Pope & Tyrone Brown are the four guys of this great combo who bring you such classics as Jordu, Giant Steps, Six bits, Good Bait & Perdido.  A special notice goes out to Six Bits which is an orignal Max Roach recording and cloxks in just under the 20 minutes in this live version. A version that not only brings you great music but also some great solo's by each of them, including some vocal interpretation of the trumpet.

Live in Berlin by Max Roach was recorded back in 1984 during a period that the Jazz scene was very vivid and is a must have for all serious Jazz fans. The album was released previously on the Repertoire label  but was out of print for a long time!  With the re-release of this classic live recording, fans of Max Roach and bebop in general will be pleased for sure.

Mr Blue Boogie.