JW 022 | STEVE LACY & MAL WALDRON |LIVE IN BERLIN .This CD looks back on two momentous events in the history of jazz: the only concert that the legendary Max Roach gave in the former East Germany and at Jazzb Berlin, the country's most important jazzfestival, which was held annually between 1977 and 1989. The 1984 concert brought together the internationally acclaimed trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, who had been playing with Roach since 1971 and hence longer than anyone else, Odeon Pope, who had been in the ensemble since 1979 and who being experienced in free jazz had a lot to do with the most recent innovations, and the bass player Tyrone Brown, who had joined in 1983. All of them were excellent soloists. The quartet breathes new life into the once highly popular bebop themes 'Jordu' and 'Good Bait', making for a surprise in the latter with its introduction of the organic, yet original 3/4-time that was so typical of Roach. After an astounding anthem-like introduction, Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' turns into a crazy speed trip with a truly wonderful tenor solo and that unmistakable Max Roach solo style. Although 'Perdido', an Ellington swing number, fi ts the profi le of timeless modernism and allows everyone a solo. By contrast 'Six Bits' is an exquisite tour de force of musicianship. Here, Roach is the shouter with humorous, improvised lyrics, while Cecil Bridgewater demonstrates similarly comic gifts on the mouthpiece of his trumpet (reaping laughter and a special round of applause for weaving in a quotation from 'Struttin' with some Barbecue'). The tenor sax eventually joins in to create an imaginatively upbeat dialogue..JW 069 | MAX ROACH | LIVE IN BERLIN .This CD looks back on two momentous events in the history of jazz: the only concert that the legendary Max Roach gave in the former East Germany and at Jazzb Berlin, the country's most important jazzfestival, which was held annually between 1977 and 1989. The 1984 concert brought together the internationally acclaimed trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, who had been playing with Roach since 1971 and hence longer than anyone else, Odeon Pope, who had been in the ensemble since 1979 and who being experienced in free jazz had a lot to do with the most recent innovations, and the bass player Tyrone Brown, who had joined in 1983. All of them were excellent soloists. The quartet breathes new life into the once highly popular bebop themes 'Jordu' and 'Good Bait', making for a surprise in the latter with its introduction of the organic, yet original 3/4-time that was so typical of Roach. After an astounding anthem-like introduction, Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' turns into a crazy speed trip with a truly wonderful tenor solo and that unmistakable Max Roach solo style. Although 'Perdido', an Ellington swing number, fi ts the profi le of timeless modernism and allows everyone a solo. By contrast 'Six Bits' is an exquisite tour de force of musicianship. Here, Roach is the shouter with humorous, improvised lyrics, while Cecil Bridgewater demonstrates similarly comic gifts on the mouthpiece of his trumpet (reaping laughter and a special round of applause for weaving in a quotation from 'Struttin' with some Barbecue'). The tenor sax eventually joins in to create an imaginatively upbeat dialogue..ITM 970084 | DAVID FRIESEN/CLARK TERRY/BUD SHANK | ...THREE TO GET READY ."Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are." If David Friesen weren't already held in high esteem as an instrumentalist and composer, you'd just have to pay him respect for the company he shares. He presents himself in the trio with the jazz legend Clark Terry and the last month decedent Bud Shank, one of the key fi gures of the west coast jazz. After listening to the virtuosity and imaginativeness displayed in these selected standards and a blues tune, you'll probably agree that this unlikely crew doesn't need no rhythm section.