Tracklisting Side 1: Driva Man/ Freedom Day/ Triptych: Prayer/ Protest/ Peace Side 2: All Africa/Tears For Johannesburg Personnel : Max Roach : drums/ Coleman Hawkins : Tenor sax/ Walter Benton :tenor sax/ Booker Little : trumpet/ Julian Priester : trombone/ James Schenk : bass/ Babatunde Olatunji : conga/ Thomas Du Vall, Ray Mantilla : percussion/ Abbey Lincoln : vocal Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios, NYC, August 31st, September 6th 1960 Engineer: Bob d’Orleans Producer and musical director: Max Roach Supervision: Nat Hentoff This is a classic. At a time when the civil rights movement was starting to heat up, drummer Max Roach performed and recorded a seven-part suite dealing with black history (particularly slavery) and racism. "Driva' Man" has a powerful statement by veteran tenor Coleman Hawkins and there is valuable solo space elsewhere for trumpeter Booker Little and trombonist Julian Priester, but it is the overall performance of Abbey Lincoln that is most notable. Formerly a nightclub singer, Lincoln really came into her own under Roach's tutelage and she is a strong force throughout this intense set. On "Tryptich: Prayer/Protest/Peace," Lincoln is heard in duets with the drummer and her wrenching screams of rage are quite memorable. This timeless protest record is a gem. Scott Yanow