Tyshawn Sorey releases reimagined Max Roach jazz album

American drummer and composer Tyshawn Sorey has released ‘Members…Don’t!’, a double album via Pi Recordings that reimagines the 1968 Max Roach work ‘Members, Don’t Git Weary’. The original album was a political plea for the civil rights movement following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Recorded live on June 14, 2025, at The Jazz Gallery in New York, Sorey’s project recreates original compositions by Roach and collaborators such as Stanley Cowell, Gary Bartz, and Jymie Merritt. The new work expands upon the original themes through six extensive developments, drawing inspiration from the conceptual works of Charles Mingus.

The recording features a diverse ensemble including Adam O’Farrill, Mark Shim, Lex Korten, and Tyrone Allen II. The album concludes with a performance by vocalist Fay Victor, who reinterprets the title track by blending gospel elements with chaotic structures.