Ayodele Casel, Rennie Harris Puremovement, and Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE, A Dance Company

The Wex joins a nationwide centennial celebration of Roach, with one of many presentations across the country. Curated by Richard Colton and commissioned by the Joyce Theater, this special program brings artists together in conversation with Roach’s lasting legacy set to recordings of the late musician performing his greatest works.

Characterized by its Afro-Cuban percussion, the 1961 album Percussion Bitter Sweet becomes the soundscape for choreographer Ronald K. Brown and Arcell Cabuag’s latest work for dancers from EVIDENCE, A Dance Company, in their return to the Wex. In “The Dream/It’s Time,” Roach’s band joins a recording of Martin Luther King Jr. in an aspirational and urgent conversation, now amplified by the streetdance storytelling of Rennie Harris Puremovement. Ayodele Casel approaches her solo dance performance as a “trio,” adding her singular percussive improvisation to the free jazz duet by Roach and fellow jazz pioneer pianist Cecil Taylor. The program opens with Max Roach Live: Video Art by Kit Fitzgerald, a short film by video artist Kit Fitzgerald with footage from her decade-long collaboration with Roach, highlighting Roach's influence across artistic disciplines.

Join us for a preperformance conversation with Richard Colton and Kit Fitzgerald, from 6–6:30 PM. They will discuss their experiences working with Roach and in-depth thoughts on the curation of Max Roach 100.

IMAGE CAPTION
Ron K. Brown's EVIDENCE, A Dance Company, photo: Steven Pisano