The trumpeter who played expressively and the drummer who has been leading and nurturing modern jazz for over 50 years grace the covers of this 2-CD set. Offering two and a half hours of music from the period 1954-1960, Alone Together traces the many personnel changes which took place in the Max Roach Quintet during those years, as trumpeters and tenor saxophonists rotated. Additionally, the piano chair gave way to the deep tuba voice, and later, trombone. Both Clifford Brown and Max Roach appear throughout disc one. The tracks include four of Brown's compositions: "Blues Walk," "Joy Spring," "Sandu" and "Daahoud." Richie Powell is the pianist for most of disc one, along with Brown, tenor saxophonist Harold Land, Roach, and bassist George Morrow. Powell and Brown were killed in an automobile accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the Bedford exit June 26, 1956. Powell's wife was driving and also perished in the tragic crash. After losing two members of his quintet, Max Roach employed other similar-styled trumpeters and experimented with the instrumentation. On disc two, Roach's trumpet chair is occupied by Kenny Dorham, Booker Little, and Tommy Turrentine, with a few tunes featuring each. The tenor saxophone chair goes to Land, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley, George Coleman and Stanley Turrentine.

There are noticeable differences. Rollins gets a tenor sound more fluidthan Land's and expresses differently. Mobley has more air in his tone;Coleman shares that attribute, but presents a different approach by forsaking the use of dynamics. That is, the saxophonist opts to perform at the same constant volume level all of the time. Stanley Turrentine produces a more fluid tone, and uses dynamics to accent notes, as the bebop tradition demands. Dorham's articulation is somewhat cleaner than Brown's; like Coleman, Dorham's soft-loud bebop accents are less pronounced. Tommy Turrentine makes extensive use of the upper register. He and trombonist Julian Priester provide contrasting styles, as Priester prefers to tongue most notes while Turrentine slurs his phrases.

Clifford Brown, the trumpet balladeer, is at his best on "What's New?" with strings and a simple backdrop to complement his timeless sound. Again, on "Star Dust," the trumpeter "sings it out" boldly with strings and a rhythm section. Brown's naked trumpet melodies and naturally untidy articulation are the antithesis of pure, carefully groomed classical trumpet music. Clifford Brown's music is a pleasant listen. Bud Powell's "Parisian Thoroughfare," Richie Powell's "Gertrude's Bounce," and the classic "Cherokee" ring familiar, and Max Roach's "Mildama" features the drummer at his best. Disc one also includes the only vocal numbers in the compilation; Brownie accompanies Sarah Vaughan singing "September Song" and Helen Merrill singing "Born To Be Blue."

The second disc contains later versions of the Max Roach Quintet. Sonny Rollins and Kenny Dorham participate for "Just One of Those Things" and "Valse Hot." Additionally, "Dr. Free-Zee" is a percussion feature with Max Roach overdubbing several timpani with his drum set while the ensemble simply adds color behind him. Hank Mobley joins the quintet for "Yardbird Suite" and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's "Tune Up." Booker Little and George Coleman sit in for "A Night In Tunisia," "La Villa" and "Prelude." Tommy and Stanley Turrentine join Julian Priester, bassist Bob Boswell and Roach for "Juliano," "Lotus Blossom," "The Left Bank" and "Never Let Me Go." Aside from the subtle changes in the quintet's sound due to personnel shifts, it's an excellent opportunity to experience the rhythmic intensity and fundamental clarity of Max Roach's drum work. As Kenny Washington points out in the liner notes, "he introduced 3/4 time to modern jazz." Washington adds that Roach follows the form and chord structure of a tune when he takes his extended solos. Trumpeters Clifford Brown, Booker Little, Kenny Dorham, and Tommy Turrentine are no longer with us; all the more reason to appreciate timeless recordings such as this.