Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes is a 2023 documentary film about the drummer, bandleader, and activist Max Roach. The film was directed by Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro, edited by Russell Greene, with cinematography by Shapiro. The film premiered at the 2023 South by Southwest Film Festival.

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
Directed by
Produced by
StarringMax Roach, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Abbey Lincoln, Harry Belafonte, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sonia Sanchez, Randy Weston, Jimmy Heath, Ayo Roach, Dara Roach, Maxine Roach, Daryl Roach, Raoul Roach
CinematographyBen Shapiro
Edited byRussell Greene
Music byChristopher North
Production
companies
  • Max Roach FIlm LLC
  • Black Public Media
  • American Masters Pictures
Release date
  • 2023 (2023)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes tells the story of a musician whose ambitions were both inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him.[1] The film follows Roach across seven decades—as a pioneering, master drummer, bandleader and cultural activist--from the revolutionary Bebop Jazz of the 1940s to the Civil Rights years; experiments in Hip Hop, multi-media works and more. [2][3]

Cast

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2023 South by Southwest film festival,[4] and its European premiere at the 2023 Sheffield DocFest.

The film aired nationally on the PBS American Masters series on October 6, 2023 and is available for streaming while appearing at film festivals worldwide.[5]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 100%.[6]

The Austin Chronicle described it as an “Informative and powerful investigation into the musician’s accomplishments and legacy.”[7]

The Washington Informer said: "Co-directors and producers Ben Shapiro and Sam Pollard have brought film, photos, and appearances from Roach’s contemporaries who tell his story. The film is outstanding."[8]

The review website Hammer to Nail said, "By the end, we have come to know Roach in all his complicated glory. He was brilliant and mercurial, and left behind an inspirational legacy that remains as vibrant today as it ever was.”[9]

Jacksonville Music Experience concludes its review of the film: "The Drum Also Waltzes is a worthy celebration of his life and music."[10]

Accolades

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes was a finalist for the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film[11]

References
  1. "We Watched and Reviewed 35 of SIFF Films! Here's What to See (and What to Skip) at This Year's Festival". The Stranger. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  2. Baumgarten, Marjorie (March 13, 2023). "SXSW Film Review: Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  3. Stafford, Megan (2023-10-06). "Max Roach Recalled on 'American Masters'". The Republic News. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  4. "2023 Archive" (PDF). Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  5. Skinner, Joe (2023-03-13). "Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes - Watch the documentary now! | American Masters | PBS". American Masters. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  6. "Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. Baumgarten, Marjorie (March 13, 2023). "SXSW Film Review: Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  8. Siler, Brenda C. (2023-10-04). "Max Roach Committed to the Music of African American People". The Washington Informer. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  9. Reed, Christopher (2023-10-06). "Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes". Hammer to Nail. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  10. Shaw, Matt (2023-10-04). "New Max Roach Documentary on PBS Highlights the Music and Life of Pioneering Jazz Drummer". WJCT Public Media. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  11. "The Better Angels Society Announces Finalists for Fifth Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize For Film". The NewsMarket. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
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