Gift of Jazz — A Centennial Tribute to Max Roach

Gift of Jazz presents A Centennial Tribute to Max Roach on Sunday, January 21 at 7 pm at The Muse Performance Space in Lafayette.

Max Roach (1924-2007) is known as one of the leading drummers, alongside Kenny Clarke, of the bebop era. During his childhood, Roach was surrounded by gospel and began playing drums at age 10. Roach graduated high school and became the house drummer for Clark Monroe’s Uptown House in Harlem. He went on to record with Parker, Gillespie, Powell, and Charles Mingus, along with a slew of others. One of Roach’s distinguishing traits was the frequent use of his ride cymbal. In the 1960s Roach focused on political impact, as shown by the album “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite.” Descriptions of Roach’s artistry include words like avant-garde, genius, trance-like… Some moments in the music feel like a composed symphony, using repetition and lack of activity to profoundly express emotion.

Born in Newport News, VA, and raised in the Washington, DC area, Harold Summey started playing drums and percussion at age 13. With degrees from Hampton and Howard Universities and studies at Eastman School of Music, he has crafted a career that spans decades, genres, and continents.

Summey has performed with, as either drummer or percussionist, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Geri Allen, Pat Metheny, Whitney Houston, James Moody, John Hicks, Ray Charles, Bobby Watson, Frank Sinatra, Jr, and many more. Summey has also performed with many esteemed ensembles including The Cleveland Orchestra, The Virginia Symphony, The American Festival Pops Orchestra, The Airmen of Note, The Navy Commodores, The Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The Annapolis Symphony, and The Maryland Symphony. He is retired from The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC where he performed as percussionist and soloist with the Concert Band from 2000-2020. Mr. Summey was also a member of The United States Navy Band in Washington, DC from 1989 to 1993.

In 1992, Mr. Summey was the first-prize winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

The Band:
Harold Summey (drums)
Brad Goode (trumpet)
Seth Lewis (bass)
Max Moore (piano)
Leslie Summey (vocals)

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