ABOUT THE FILM

LOGLINE

MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES explores the life and music of the legendary drummer, composer, bandleader, and social activist through a remarkable series of creative peaks, struggles, and personal reinventions—from the Jim Crow era to the Civil Rights years, surveying the heady days of post-war modern jazz to hip hop and beyond.

LONG SYNOPSIS

MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES is the story of a musician whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him. His stunningly diverse seven-decade career marked him as one of the great musical artists of the 20th century—and a pioneering cultural activist—at times when the nation was steeped in racism.

The film follows Roach across a rich and complicated life, days of now-legendary achievement and also deep personal struggle, and the price he paid for his outspoken views. His was an epic musical journey: from the revolutionary Jazz of the 1940s to the Civil Rights years; through experiments in hip hop, multi-media works, and beyond.

Directors Sam Pollard, Ben Shapiro

Producers Sam Pollard, Ben Shapiro

Executive Producer Michael Kantor

Executive Producers for Black Public Media Leslie Fields-Cruz, Denise A. Greene

Editor Russell Greene

Cinematographer Ben Shapiro

Sound Ben Shapiro
sound design Deborah Wallach

Music Christopher North

Featuring Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Abbey Lincoln, Harry Belafonte, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sonia Sanchez, Randy Weston, Jimmy Heath

FESTIVALS
2023: SXSW (World Premiere)

AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature (Pan African)

AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
The World

EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Digital Download