Frederick Roach (May 11, 1931 – October 3, 1980) was an American

soul jazz Soul jazz or funky jazz is a subgenre of jazz that incorporates strong influences from hard bop, blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues. Soul jazz is often characterized by organ trios featuring the Hammond organ and small combos including ten ...

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organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

born in

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, New York, United States. Roach's first commercial recordings were with saxophonist

Ike Quebec Ike Abrams Quebec (August 17, 1918 – January 16, 1963) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career in the big band era of the 1940s, then fell from prominence for a time until launching a comeback in the years before his dea ...

for Blue Note Records in the fall of 1961. These sessions produced Quebec's albums '' Heavy Soul'' and ''

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''. In March of 1962, Roach recorded as a backing musician for the ''Thunderbird'' album by Willis Jackson. From 1962-64, Roach recorded 5 albums as a leader for Blue Note, and also recorded with Donald Byrd on the album '' I'm Tryin' to Get Home''. Roach's original writing, steady basslines, and highly musical fleet-fingered right hand set him apart. From 1966-67 he recorded three more albums as a leader for Prestige Records, which are in a more commercial vein than his Blue Note dates. Roach's Prestige albums were his last commercial recordings. Dean Rudland, in the liner notes to a CD reissue of Roach's Prestige albums ''Soul Book'' and ''Mocha Motion'', wrote that Roach moved to Paris in the 1970s and worked as an arranger for Oliver Lake's big band. Roach can be heard reciting one of his own poems on a 1974 album by jazz bassist Bob Reid titled ''Africa Is Calling Me: A Modern Day Black Opera'' (Kwela Records, 30K010), which was recorded in Paris and featured Oliver Lake. Roach reportedly later moved to California to work in the film industry. He suffered a heart attack and died in 1980.

Discography

As leader

*'' Down to Earth'' (Blue Note, 1962) *'' Mo' Greens Please'' (Blue Note, 1963) *'' Good Move!'' (Blue Note, 1963) *''

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'' (Blue Note, 1964) *'' All That's Good'' (Blue Note, 1965) *''

The Freddie Roach Soul Book ''The Freddie Roach Soul Book'' (also referred to as simply ''The Soul Book'') is an album by American organist Freddie Roach released on Prestige in late 1966. It was his first album for Prestige after a two-year stint with Blue Note. Track l ...

'' (Prestige, 1966) *'' Mocha Motion!'' (Prestige, 1967) *'' My People (Soul People)'' (Prestige, 1967)

As sideman

With

*'' Heavy Soul'' (Blue Note, 1961) *''

'' (Blue Note, 1961) With Willis Jackson *''

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'' (Prestige, 1962) With Donald Byrd *'' I'm Tryin' to Get Home'' (Blue Note, 1965)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roach, Freddie American jazz organists American male organists Soul-jazz organists Blue Note Records artists 1931 births 1980 deaths Prestige Records artists Transatlantic Records artists 20th-century organists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians