The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker

The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker is an album by American jazz drummer Max Roach featuring tracks associated with Charlie Parker recorded in late 1957 and 1958 and released on the EmArcy label.^[1] It is also the first album to feature Roach playing without a piano.

The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker
Studio album by Max Roach
Released	1959
Recorded	December 23, 1957 and April 11, 1958 New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	56:36
Label	EmArcy MG 36127
Max Roach chronology
Jazz in ¾ Time (1957) The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker (1959) MAX (1958)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]
Tom Hull	B+ ()[4]

Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "this set is generally fine although the lack of a piano is really felt on some of this material".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Charlie Parker except as indicated

1. "Yardbird Suite" - 3:55
2. "Confirmation" - 4:28
3. "Ko-Ko" - 7:59
4. "Billie's Bounce" - 5:37
5. "Au Privave" - 4:19
6. "Parker's Mood" - 8:23
7. "Raoul" (Max Roach) - 4:50 Bonus track on CD reissue
8. "This Time the Dream's on Me" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) - 5:21 Bonus track on CD reissue
9. "Tune-Up" (Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson) - 7:46 Bonus track on CD reissue
10. "Anthropology (Thriving on a Riff)" (Dizzy Gillespie, Parker) - 5:06 Bonus track on CD reissue

• Recorded at Fine Recording in New York City on December 20, 1957 (tracks 7-9), December 23, 1957 (tracks 1, 2, 5 & 10) and at Nola's Penthouse Sound Studios in New York City on April 11, 1958 (tracks 3, 4 & 6)

Personnel

• Max Roach - drums
• Kenny Dorham - trumpet
• George Coleman (tracks 3, 4 & 6), Hank Mobley (tracks 1, 2, 5 & 7-10) - tenor saxophone
• Nelson Boyd (tracks 3, 4 & 6), George Morrow (tracks 1, 2, 5 & 7-10) - bass

References

1. Max Roach discography accessed September 20, 2012
2. Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed September 20, 2012
3. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 169. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
4. Hull, Tom (June 2, 2020). "Music Week". Tom Hull – On the Web. Retrieved June 20, 2020.