22 Quotes by Max Roach

In your lifetime, if you can come up with one original idea, you have accomplished a great deal.

The people who really got me off were dealing with the musical potential of the Instrument.

I'd like to build what I call an oasis.

Jazz is a very democratic musical form. It comes out of a communal experience. We take our respective instruments and collectively create a thing of beauty.

Although the crash came a year later, and although the people were poor and disenfranchised, they had a lot of pride.

They don't tell you why they chose you. And they won't say who was on the committee.

I didn't even apply. There was no warning.

he American drummer is a one-man percussion orchestra.

I used to take musical instruments home from elementary school. There were some music teachers there - we all learned instruments. A lot of us got started in public schools. Charlie Parker and Bud Powell, for example. But now there are no more music teachers in public elementary schools. It's like (Senator) Moynihan said, 'benign neglect.' Just let it rot and fester.