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Max Roach, Arnie Lawrence, Johnny Mayer        (Photo: Gali Tibbon)

Max Roach in Jerusalem

Jerusalem Peace Wish

Down Beat Magazine, September 2001

In July, drummer Max Roach performed with alto saxophonist Arnie Lawrence at the Jerusalem Theater before an enthusiastic sell-out crowd. The performance was followed by a spontaneous jam session held in the lobby for hundreds of fans who couldn't buy tickets and turned up, hoping to catch a glimpse of Roach. During his visit, Roach traveled throughout Israel with Lawrence, meeting and jamming with many leading Israeli jazz and ethnic musicians who joined him on stage at the Israel Festival performance.

Shown here, Roach receives a Blues for Peace shirt from Johnny Mayer at a master class arranged by Lawrence at the Jerusalem Theater. "Blues for Peace" was established in Israel in 1997 to honor the roots of blues, promote peace and the understanding that ALL people have had their share of the blues.

About Max Roach

Max Roach, among the world's greatest drummers, burst on the jazz scene in the 1940s. His ability to cross complex rhythms led to performances with top jazzmen such as Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Pettiford, Coleman Hawkins, and Thelonious Monk. In 1953, Roach shared the stage with musical titans Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and Charles Mingus in the legendary Massey Hall Concert held in Toronto.

In the 1960s, Roach integrated political consciousness into his work composing the landmark "We Insist! Freedom Now" album, commissioned by the NAACP. In the 1970s, Roach brought the drums from a supporting role to a starring role in solo drum performances. Roach also performed in mixed media collaborations with Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Toni Morrison, Cecil Taylor, Bill Cosby, Tito Puente, among others.

Visit the Israel Jazz Showcase.

		In Concert & In Session Video  Performed by Max Roach. Edited by Tim Landers. Video (NTSC video). Published by Warner Brothers.