Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

The life and times of drummer Max Roach, who forever changed the landscape of America through his timeless music and lifetime of cultural activism, structured as a series of chapters that reflect his constant professional and personal reinvention over his seven-decade career. —M.G.

Max Roach was one of the most influential jazz drummers, though perhaps one whose name isn’t as widely recognizable as his contemporaries such as Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. Featuring interviews with Roach’s closest collaborators and family members, as well as famous artists influenced by his work, such as Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES is a profound and expansive portrait of a musician finally given his own spotlight. Roach’s legacy is one of outspoken political activism both in life and in his artistic expression—captured here in stunning archival footage and audio. The film illuminates the full breadth of his creative power, revealing an artist who continued to innovate across decades and into the rise of hip hop. —C.F.