Part of Doc Spotlight and Music City Mondays
MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES is the story of a musician whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him. His stunningly diverse seven-decade career marked him as one of the great musical artists of the 20th century — and a pioneering cultural activist — at times when the nation was steeped in racism. The film follows Roach across a rich and complicated life, days of now-legendary achievement and also deep personal struggle, and the price he paid for his outspoken views. His was an epic musical journey — from the revolutionary jazz of the 1940s to the Civil Rights years, through experiments in hip hop, multi-media works and beyond.
“The film uses a vast array of archival footage and interviews to bring the recent past to life, often building sections into pulsating impressions that reflect its subject and an overall musicality. Jazz novices and well-steeped aficionados will all find this an edifying document.” —Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
“Unlike many previous jazz musician profiles, however, this one was — in a manner of speaking — in the works for nearly 35 years… Since Shapiro and Pollard finished shooting their film, several speakers have also passed on. As of this writing, Sonny Rollins is still surviving and thriving at the age of 92, a living link to the adventurous jazz world Max Roach and his associates helped to create over 70 years ago.” —Kathy Fennessy, Seattle Film Blog