WKCR announces a special broadcast for the centennial birthday of American drummer and composer Max Roach, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 30 hours from 6 pm on Tuesday, January 9 until midnight on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The broadcast will run from the beginning of Jazz Alternatives on Tuesday until Som De Brasil at 12:00 am on Thursday. The broadcast will preempt our regularly-scheduled Tuesday shows airing after 6 pm and will preempt all regularly-scheduled Wednesday shows.

Max Roach was an American jazz drummer and composer who is considered one of the pioneers of bebop and modern jazz. He began his career in the 1940s and quickly gained recognition as a talented musician, collaborating with notable artists such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. Roach went on to lead his own groups and record numerous albums as a bandleader, showcasing his innovative approach to drumming and composition. He also explored other musical styles, including classical music and fusion, and became known for his activism and social justice advocacy. Roach continued to perform and record until his death in 2007, leaving behind a legacy as a leading figure in the history of jazz and one of the most influential drummers of all time.