Max Roach - We insist! Freedom Now Suite (1990) [Repost]

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Max Roach - We insist! Freedom Now Suite (1990) [Repost]

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Just first look at who is playing and singing here, see the score, then see the date and you have noticed to be landed on the toplevel of the energy that was brought up in order to make clear that enough was enough!
Good Art states something. Hear the rythm here, feel what they are saying and expressing and how pure and unbounded it is said in every way. Lots of messages here and..: No holding back ! This is the Black Movement, the progressive approach, the need for freedom and equality. A cry to stop the stupidity and start sharing. To be heard. But there was a lot more going-on in that time. Now remember how short the distance back till the time where people still had to fight in order to be heard and be seen as an equal human creature even ! It is still happening.
Now, this all could lead into something sounding chaotic or rioting, but no, it is all done on a very high music-level and drenches you straight into the Real Thing of Jazz ! These people are intelligent and have a high-develloped sense for music, free music. Non-commercial, just Making Music.
Every youngster with an angle to music, who is made out of the real curious material, will change the approach after the listening and understanding of this New-Thing-stream Example. Try reaching for the intuitive level..
Abbey touches the spine ánd malehood of every man by stating the Female Power straight, there is a bit of humour and irony, ofcourse- as allways when Bowie is around.., the guys throw-in their skills at a moment where they all are on their tops. They are aware of the unique-ness of their togetherness and challange each other out to go over the hills again and pass the last set borders in order to state a new standard for Jazz.. Just listen to this recording and hear it happen..
It still is a statement that sounds like the bell for the next round of Muhammed Ali! Exciting! But ofcourse also very heartwarming in it's non-violent honesty.
Music is a strong power with a wide range.

Max Roach's "We Insist!" is one of the most powerful pieces of music ever committed to record. It is rarely available (although I was able to order a copy direct from Candid) but is worth taking the time to seek out, regardless of cost. With a band featuring trumpet genius Booker Little and sax legend Coleman Hawkins along with three percussionists (including Olatunji) and featured vocalist Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach and Oscar Brown, Jr., inspired by the sit-in movement, assembled a political album without parallel.

Before going any further, I'll speak of the most famous and most powerful piece on here– "Triptych". Its a duet between Roach and Lincoln in three parts, an introspective, haunting opening, building in tension and power, before drifting to conclusion. It is beyond words to try and explain this piece, it really is something that needs to be heard. Listen to it alone with no other stimulus, it can be overwhelming.

The rest of the album admittedly has a hard time living up to this level of expression and power, but how could it? "Driva' Man", however, is nearly as stunning. A story of brutal slave owners, it begins with Lincoln over thin percussion before going into a positively haunting rendition of the melody and a moving solo by Coleman Hawkins (even with a squeaky reed). The rest of the album is, however, spectacular, and this is really an essential piece of music.

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