Sad news. Full Times obit here.

Max Roach, a founder of modern jazz who rewrote the rules of drumming in the 1940’s and spent the rest of his career breaking musical barriers and defying listeners’ expectations, died early today in Manhattan. He was 83.

His death was announced today by a spokesman for Blue Note records, on which he frequently appeared. No cause was given. Mr. Roach had been known to be ill for several years.

As a young man, Mr. Roach, a percussion virtuoso capable of playing at the most brutal tempos with subtlety as well as power, was among a small circle of adventurous musicians who brought about wholesale changes in jazz.

Here are two of my favorites featuring Roach, both off of ‘62’s excellent Money Jungle, an album he did with two other greats, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus.

Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, Max Roach - Money Jungle.

Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, Max Roach - A Little Max (Parfait).