BROWN, Clifford (1930-1956) and Max ROACH (1924-2007).

Souvenir photo folder from the Basin Street East nightclub in the Sheraton Towers Hotel, New York, c.1954, signed in blue ballpoint pen on the front cover by Clifford Brown and Max Roach, playing as the Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet, additionally signed by Dave Brubeck and quintet sax player Harold Land.

As Clifford Brown died tragically young in a car accident at just 25 years old, his signature is notably scarce. ‘Relative to the length of his career [Brown] had a greater impact on the music than any comparable instrumentalist. A whole generation was affected by his combination of fast attack and broad, lyrical tone, which sounded like a hybrid between Fats Navarro and Miles Davis. Brownie’s early death was a genuine tragedy for the music… Inevitably his best [recordings are] in the Roach-Brown sessions. The drummer’s generosity in making the younger man co-leader is instantly and awesomely repaid.’ Cook and Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings.

Interviewed for Modern Drummer magazine in 1982, Charlie Watts said of Max Roach: ‘I saw him at Carnegie Hall with his band and McCoy Tyner’s band. Max plays nothing like I thought he played. He’s incredible… He just starts off playing “boom dit, boom dit.” And he builds that up. Quite brilliant. To watch him play with a band is fantastic. The band with Clifford Brown was amazing. Fish and Weinberg, ‘A Conversation with Charlie Watts’ in Modern Drummer, August/September 1982.

Single-fold card photofolder, 240 x 280 mm, printed in blue and yellow on white coated card stock.

[With:] MILI, Gjon (1904-1984). Max Roach, c.1950. Vintage gelatin silver print, with Eric Miller’s pencil annotations verso, 293 x 279 mm. Provenance: Eric Miller (1941-2017; Norman Granz’ assistant and protégé).