Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes is the story of a trailblazing musician who used his talents as a percussionist, pianist, and composer to challenge the status quo and inspire social change. Roach's stunningly diverse seven-decade career marked him as one of the towering figures of jazz—and a pioneering cultural activist—at a time when the nation was steeped in racism. His innovative collaborations with artists including Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis chart the history of the art form. 

The film follows Roach across a rich and complicated life, days of now-legendary achievement as well as 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 to experiments in hip-hop, multimedia works, and beyond. Past Wex guest Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, The League) codirects interviews with notable figures, including Harry Belafonte, Questlove, and Sonny Rollins to reveal Roach’s life, career, legacy, and enduring influence. (82 mins., DCP)

Max Roach Live is a short film by video artist Kit Fitzgerald with footage from her decades-long collaboration with Roach, highlighting Roach's influence across artistic disciplines. (8 mins., digital video)

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Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes, courtesy of The Film Collaborative.