Max Roach, RIP

Legendary jazz drummer Max Roach died over the weekend. By all accounts it was a peaceful passing, not one to mourn but rather to envy. He was one of my favorites ever since I saw a kid's show years ago where he teaches the kids about drumming. He has one kid tapping a block, another kid beating a tom, another tinkling the hi-hat and another on a bass drum. Then he sits down and matches them all by himself--killer stuff and unexpected too.

These are some fine videos, this why God invented the Internet. Watching him work is like watching a great chef trying everything out, mixing and chopping to come up with something tasty. That last piece, from French television, is really a marvel.

Max Roach -- by himself
Max Roach -- drum solo
Max Roach -- soloing over MLK's March on Washington speech