Freedom Now Suite
The Freedom Now Suite
It was originally intended to be premiered in 1963 to mark the 100th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the USA. Drummer Max Roach fell out with his co-writer Oscar Brown as segregation came to a head, and recorded the Freedom Now Suite in September 1960.
The triptych Prayer - Protest - Peace, a duet for percussion and voice, makes the feelings underlying the liberation struggle of black Americans directly audible, tangible and perceptible - beyond what words can say.