The Max Roach Trio, Featuring the Legendary Hasaan/Drums Unlimited

To the Max!!!

It's great when 2 of one's favourite albums get issued together on one cd giving an opportunity to get rid of worn out vinyl.Both classic albums from the mid '60's show Max Roach to have possibly been the greatest jazz drummer ever and those traded fours between Hasaan and Roach on "Almost Like Me" and the solo "The Drum Also Waltzes" from "Unlimited" should be compulsory listening for any drummer.Max didn't just play drums,he played melody on those drums,an inspiration to the great melodic drummers who followed such as Tony Williams and Jack DeJohnette.The unique quality of the "Legendary" cd is the possibly only appearance on record of the brilliant pianist known as "Hasaan" who makes an out of tune piano sound as beautiful as a Steinway.The reason I can't give this item the full five stars is because it was decided to cram both albums onto one cd and in so doing,they left off "Hope So Elmo".A logical chance as Max is absent from that track but this beautiful dedication to Elmo Hope by Hasaan and Art Davis on arco bass was one of the highlights of the album for me. It's a shame they couldn't issue it as 2 cds with some bonus material and I guess I'll have to hang on to my vinyl "Legendary" for now.