This record is a vinyl re-release of the avant-garde jazz album We Insist! by percussionist, band leader, and composer, Max Roach, born on this day in 1924. The album contains the “Freedom Now” vocal-instrumental suite, which Max Roach and Oscar Brown began developing in 1959 with the goal of performing it in 1963 on the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, various events in 1960 related to the Civil Rights Movement and African independence movements changed the scope and direction of some of the compositions and prompted an earlier release. The album cover references the student sit-in movement.
We Insist! Max Roach's - Freedom Now Suite
- Description
- An LP vinyl record (2015.103.3a) and jacket (2015.103.3b) of the "We Insist-Freedom Now Suite" performed by jazz percussionist, drummer and composer Max Roach.
- The LP vinyl record (2015.103.3a) has a black-and-white label, with white writing set against a black background. The type on the front of label reads: [So Far Out/ Side A/ OUT5001LP/ WE INSIST!/ MAX ROACH AND OSCAR BROWN, Jr.'s/ FREEDOM NOW SUITE/ DRIVA' MAN (5:10) FREEDOM DAY (6:02)/ TRIPTYCH: PRAYER. PROTEST, PEACE (7:58)]. The reverse side of the label reads: [So Far Out/ Side B/ OUT5001LP/ WE INSIST!/ MAX ROACH AND OSCAR BROWN, Jr.'s/ FREEDOM NOW SUITE/ ALL AFRICA (7:57)/ TEARS FOR JOHANNESBURG (9:36)].
- The LP jacket (2015.103.3b) features a black-and-white photograph depicting three African American men sitting at a diner counter, with a white man in a white uniform standing behind the counter. The three African American men are looking over their shoulders towards the camera. A menu board can be seen in the top proper-right corner of the image. Black type on front of LP cover reads: [WE INSIST!/ MAX ROACH'S - FREEDOM NOW SUITE/ FEATURING ABBEY LINCOLN/ COLEMAN HAWKINS, OLATUNJI/ So Far Out/ OUT5001LP].
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Composed by
- Max Roach, American, 1924 - 2007
- Written by
- Oscar Brown, American, 1926 - 2005
- Recorded by
- Max Roach, American, 1924 - 2007
- Abbey Lincoln, American, 1930 - 2010
- Published by
- MiruMir Music Publishing, Russian, founded 2004
- Date
- 1960; re-released 2013
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Max Roach
- Medium
- vinyl, cardboard
- Dimensions
- Diameter (.a, album): 11 13/16 in. (30 cm)
- H x W (.b, album jacket): 12 5/16 × 12 5/16 in. (31.3 × 31.3 cm)
- Type
- record covers
- long-playing records
