Max Roach | Drums Unlimited

Drums Unlimited is an album by American jazz drummer Max Roach recorded in 1965 and 1966 and released on the Atlantic label.^[1]

Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars and its review by Scott Yanow states, "essentially advanced hard-bop with a generous amount of space taken up by Roach's drum solos... because of the melodic and logically-planned nature of his improvisations, they continually hold on to one's attention".^[2]


1. The Drum Also Waltzes (Max Roach) 0:00
2. Nommo (Jymie Merritt) 3:33
3. Drums Unlimited (Max Roach) 16:17
4. St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy) 20:40
5. For Big Sid (Max Roach) 26:03
6."In The Red (A Xmas Carol)" (Max Roach) 29:07

MAX ROACH, drums
JAMES SPAULDING, alto sax
FREDDIE HUBBARD, trumpet
RONNIE MATTHEWS, piano
JYMIE MERRITT, bass
Side 2 track 1 also features RONALD ALEXANDER, soprano sax

this set was Max Roach's only recording as a leader during 1963-67. Three of the six numbers ("Nommo," "St. Louis Blues" and "In the Red") find Roach heading a group that includes trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, altoist James Spaulding, pianist Ronnie Mathews, bassist Jymie Merritt and, on "St. Louis Blues," Roland Alexander on soprano. Their music is essentially advanced hard-bop with a generous amount of space taken up by Roach's drum solos. The other three selections ("The Drum Also Waltzes," "Drums Unlimited" and "For Big Sid") are unaccompanied features for Max Roach and because of the melodic and logically-planned nature of his improvisations, they continually hold on to one's attention.