Paying Tribute To The Old, While Pursuing The Nu!

What makes a man great? What makes a jazz musician great? Does the personal life of a man, and the way he handles himself on a daily basis define his actions? As we lose another legend of jazz this past week (Max Roach) I began to think about these questions, as I do each time a great musician of jazz passes. Over the years we have lost many of our musical forefathers, and we are firmly in a third line…. By that I mean you have the first line, the Duke Ellington’s, Miles Davis’, John Coltrane’s etc….; then you have the second line people like Michael Brecker, Kenny Kirkland, etc.

So what makes these men who often have a questionable personal life great? When one looks at the totality of life maybe some of these people weren’t the most selfless of individuals, maybe some were drug abusers, wife beaters, petty criminals, but in the context which we know them is that really relevant? Max Roach and others like him exemplified the epitome of what true artists (of any art form) are all about. They dedicated themselves and their lives to the perfection of their craft.

In that pursuit of perfection, their musical quest led them around the world, to interact with persons across countless cultural backgrounds, and heralding the “African-American” experience in America through music, in a way which all humans could understand. The pain and degradation of segregation, the jubilation brought from faith—all of these things were relayed through the music Max Roach played, lived, and loved.

Although the failures of a person’s life can haunt them long afterwards, the good that men do is often quickly forgotten. As one who has built a life based upon the backs of those who have struggled before me, I can never forget that everything I have accomplished so far, or yet hope to achieve, has been made possible by the selfless sacrifices of people like Max. We owe much to those who have come before us --- Max Roach, Duke Ellington, Mercer Ellington, Milt Hinton, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis…. and the list goes on and on and on…..

I am steadfastly reminded that though there may be differences in generations those same fundamental values at the core of jazz (love, dedication, purpose) all have root in a “Nu” era…. lest we forget what our fore fathers have taught us…… that making timeless music, will forever make you timeless, and that there is no greater purpose in life for a musician than to seek such perfection.

Thanks Max, you did it with your own style, and own grace, and although you were not perfect in life, you were as perfect as any mere mortal could hope to be. With any luck, we should all aspire to such an immensely difficult feat.