Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Ensemble

The SMJO will present “The Legacy of Max Roach” as part of FCC’s Jazz Festival, part of the College’s Music Program. Members of the SMJO will work with FCC music students during the day and perform in the evening.

During the 1940s, Max Roach revolutionized the world of modern drum-set playing which inspired contemporary music legends Chick Web, Sonny Greer, Jo Jones, and the innovations of Kenny Clarke. Roach developed a swing and cymbal technique, with dynamic expression that became the template for the creative imagination and technical mastery required to move modern jazz forward. Featuring songs such as Charlie Parker’s “Ko Ko,” Max Roach and Clifford Brown’s recording of “Delilah,” and his own composition “Little Folks,” the SJMO honors the legacy of Max Roach, who would have been 100 years old in January 2024.

The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Septet includes on alto saxophone Charlie Young, trumpet Kenny Rittenhouse, tenor sax Scott Silbert, trombone Mark Williams, piano Tony Nalker, bass Amy Shook, and drums Ken Kimery.