M'Boom

Max Roach's final recording with his all-percussion group M'Boom is a live set recorded at the long defunct S.O.B.'s in New York City. Utilizing a vast array of instruments, including vibes, marimba, xylophone, conga, and timpani, among others, Roach and his band offer engaging interpretations of originals written by bandmembers, and standards along with jazz compositions by others and at least one surprise, while the personnel often varies greatly from one track to the next, ranging from solo to octet. Janet Jackson's "Come Back to Me" hardly seems like a plausible jazz vehicle, but with Roach sitting out and Joe Chambers' marimba solo, it takes on a Latin flavor and manages to swing. "Body and Soul" is unusual as a humorous duet for Chambers' vibes and Roy Brooks on musical saw. The in-your-face take of Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy" and campy "Blue Monk" (with Warren Smith playing the melody on timpani) are obvious highlights, but the compositions by the bandmembers also merit high praise. It is unfortunate that this fascinating band was not documented more extensively, but this recording is full of surprises for anyone willing to explore it. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi