Almost a decade after recording the 1959 masterpiece We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, a landmark in modern-day socially conscious music, Max Roach made this no less important album, that was almost a kind of progress report on the lack of progress in the field of race relations and equality in post-Civil Rights America. No title could have been more resonant than Members, Don’t Git Weary quite simply because it is a rallying cry for people of colour and the disenfranchised in general who are beaten down by an oppressive majority.

Like all significant band- leaders, Roach, also a pioneering drummer and composer, saw the importance of bringing younger players into the fold and the presence of pianist Stanley Cowell was decisive insofar as he contributed fabulous original material in addition to his excellent performance as both sideman and soloist.

Pieces like ‘Abstrutions, ‘Effi’ and ‘Equipoise’ tied together blues, modalism and lyricism of the highest order, while another highlight ‘Libra’, by saxophonist Gary Bartz was a brilliant piece of odd metered post-bop that breathed new energy into classic ‘small group jazz.’

But nothing was more powerful than the title track, a soul stirring freewheeling anthem given deep emotion by the heavenly voice of Andy Bey. It is the crowning glory of a startling set of six songs that have retained both musical appeal and political power five decades after their creation.