AMG Review of Many Sides of Max

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This album (although listed in some discographies as 1959) was probably recorded in 1961. A reunion of Max Roach's sidemen, it features a particularly strong group comprised of the great trumpeter Booker Little, George Coleman on tenor, trombonist Julian Priester, pianist Ray Bryant and bassist Bob Boswell. Among the many highpoints of this LP (which was reissued on a Trip album but is not yet on CD) include Roach's tympani work on "Tympanalli," "Bemsha Swing" and "There's No You," but all seven selections on the admittedly brief album (around 31 minutes) are worth hearing.