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14-23 November 2025

#wearejazz

Charles Tolliver celebrates Max Roach @ 100

Charles Tolliver celebrates Max Roach @ 100

Mon 18 November 2024

Stage time / 7:30pm

Doors / 7:00pm

Icons

Location

Barbican,
Silk Street
EC2Y 8DS

Max Roach unarguably sits at the throne of drum Percussionists. A quintessential member of the Artform ushered in by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and Kenny Clark, his inimitable style and innovations paved the way for generations of drummers well into the future.

Self-taught trumpet wizard & virtuoso composer, arranger, Grammy-nominated recipient Charles Tolliver has kept the faith with his Artform’s African American rhythms, and acclaimed large and small group recordings & performances throughout a career that spans six decades.

Earlier in his career he had the pleasure of being invited by Max Roach to join his group in 1967 and occupied the trumpet chair for some years forming a lifelong musical and personal relationship. In 1971 Max asked Charles to create a Drum Suite adaptation of an old Negro spiritual “Singin’ Wid a Sword In My Hand” from the James Weldon Johnson book of Negro Spirituals. It was premiered that year at the Montreux Jazz Festival featuring Max, Charles, and Stanley Cowell.

To celebrate this historic occasion Charles Tolliver brings to the stage a number of special guests and an orchestra assembled by Tony Kofi in this new spectacular show to honour Max Roach’s 100th.

Featuring

Charles Tolliver


Darrel Green
- Drums

Camille Thurman
– Tenor

and A Big Band of London Finest

Directed by Charles Tolliver

featuring Tony Kofi (Alto/Soprano Saxophone & MD), Donovan Haffner (Alto Saxophone/Clarinet), Jean Toussaint (Tenor Saxophone). Denys Baptiste (Tenor Saxophone/Clarinet), Charles Rothwell (Baritone Saxophone/ Bass Clarinet), Josh Short (Lead Trumpet), Byron Wallen (Trumpet), Dan Coulthurst (Trumpet), Alexander Polack (Trumpet), Matt Seddon (Trombone), Harry Brown (Trombone), James Wade Sired (Trombone), Richard Henry (Bass Trombone), Danny Piers (Piano) & Larry Bartley (Double Bass), Cheikh Diop (Percussionist).

“It’s hard to overstate the importance of Max Roach as a drummer, band leader and political activist. Arguably one of his greatest records - "Member’s Don’t Git Weary” has recently been re-issued and given new focus. The band on that 1968 classic included pianist Stanley Cowell and trumpet player Charles Tolliver who together would go on to found the seminal Strata East label. For this special festival gig Tolliver pulls together a programme of Roach’s music to be played by a big band featuring some of the big hitters of UK jazz. Gigs like this provide an ever-rarer link to the roots of jazz - catch them while you can.”

Jez Nelson, Jazz FM Recommends 2024

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