Maximum Max

One of the best memorials I’ve seen or heard for the late jazz great Max Roach comes courtesy of Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. You owe it to yourself to watch Bill Cosby’s tribute to the phenomenal drummer, which manages to be hilarious and understatedly touching all at once. You also owe it to yourself to hear Amiri Baraka talking about his terror when he showed up with some pages of poetry for a word and music session only to be told by Roach that he would have to improvise, just like the musicians. In fact, you owe it to yourself to take in the whole thing.