Thursday, August 19, 2010

Max Roach - Chattahoochee Red




FIXED: The original zip file had an issue with the final track.

And how about this one? Where the hell are you on this one, Columbia? I got this as a cut-out when I was in junior high. Off all the records this band produced, this remains my favorite. Pope is in top form and Max is just, well, Max. Cecil Bridgewater is warm and inviting throughout, even in the many fiery moments, and Calvin Hill has to be one of the all-time under-appreciated bassists. Great tunes, unique arrangements, and the Max factor make this one a must have.

This is also worthwhile for the history lesson associated with the title. During the early 80s, the city of Atlanta, Georgia, was terrorized by the Atlanta Child Murders. Many of the bodies were recovered from the Chattahoochee River, and the title refers to the bloodshed of the victims. After over a year of these vicious serial killings, the police arrested Wayne Williams for the murders. There has been much made (albeit quietly) about his being wrongfully accused, but nothing concrete has ever been released in the national media. I remember it being an issue at the time (even here in the north) because no one could believe that the perpetrator of the heinous crimes could be black. I saw (and still see) it differently. Under the circumstances, I'm not sure how a white person could have gotten away with the continued activities given the heightened sensitivity of the community -- it almost HAD to be a black person. This seems to be a forgotten piece of American history (probably everywhere but Atlanta), and really should not be, because it was a sinister tragedy. Kudos for Max for using his voice to address it.

  1. The Dream/It's Time
  2. I Remember Clifford
  3. Reach For It
  4. Lonesome Lover
  5. Wefé (We-Fay)
  6. Six Bits Blues
  7. 'Round Midnight
  8. Red River Road
  9. Giant Steps
  10. Chattahoochee Red
Cecil Bridgewater - trumpet, flugelhorn
Odean Pope - tenor sax, alto flute, oboe
Calvin Hill - bass
Max Roach - drums
Walter Bishop, Jr. - piano (5)

Released 1981

Columbia FC 37376

4 comments:

SlimStew said...

Thanks for posting this. Columbia had it goin' on back then. I saw this band several times and they were burnin'. One night, Max had one tune where he played nothing but quarter notes through the whole tune--swingin', but with nary a syncopation coming from the drums. I was in the back of the room with the late drummer Richie Goldberg (Ray Charles "Live At Newport") and we, and everyone else, were going crazy--Max whipped everyone into a frenzy with that one.

bayviewsax-lostsoul.blogspot.com said...

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing the memory. I never got to see Max in the flesh, but I've always heard great stories about the experience from those who did.

Otis Foster said...

This is the band I saw in NO during the Jazz Festival many years ago. Bridgewater was on fire that evening. I don't think other recordings ever captured the full breadth of his talent, but hopefully this session will.

bayviewsax-lostsoul.blogspot.com said...

Otis, if you've not heard the Baystate stuff with Billy Harper and Cecil, I strongly recommend it. Some of Cecil's best stuff on record to my ear. This one is also pretty good.