A Powerful Reimagining of The Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln Track
From The 1960 Groundbreaking Album “We Insist!”
Four-time GRAMMY-winning jazz icon Terri Lyne Carrington and GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Christie Dashiell release ‘Freedom Day (Part 1)’ their vibrant reimagining of Max Roach’s timeless anthem ‘Freedom Day’. The single highlights Carrington’s lifelong mission to champion jazz and advocate for inclusivity. The single is out now via Candid Records.
‘Freedom Day (Part 1)‘ is a dynamic tribute to the 1960 Max Roach and Oscar Brown Jr. composition, from the groundbreaking album “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite”. Written to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, the album stands as a defining artistic statement of the Black American civil rights movement. With a career defining performance by the incomparable Abbey Lincoln, it is one of the most powerful and enduring statements of music as protest.
The 2025 arrangement breathes new life into the track, blending Carrington’s signature drumming and production skills with Dashiell’s soulful vocals and an all-star ensemble featuring Morgan Guerin (bass, woodwinds), Milena Casado (trumpet, electronics), Matthew Stevens (guitar), and Simon Moullier (vibes). The result is a dynamic interpretation that honors the original’s revolutionary spirit, while echoing a social justice message which remains poignant as ever today.
Reflecting on Max Roach’s influence, Carrington shares, “he has always been an important person and influence in my life. Max was an innovator that brought the drums to the forefront in jazz—away from having just an accompanying role. He was a leader by nature—more than just in music—and helped me to see the importance of being a total musician because he composed, arranged, and dreamt up big ideas.”
Six decades later, the lyrics of ‘Freedom Day’ still strongly resonate, with Dashiell beautifully delivering stirring lines like:
Slave no longer, slave no longer, this is Freedom Day.
Freedom Day, it’s Freedom Day. Throw those shackle n’ chains away.
Everybody that I see says it’s really true, we’re free.
Christie Dashiell, who “possesses a sumptuously rich timbre, a powerful storytelling gift and the ability to craft songs which lodge immediately in the heart,” (Jazzwise) adds smooth layers and emotional depth to the track. The single is a testament to Carrington’s visionary artistry and her commitment to using music as a platform for social justice. As an NEA Jazz Master and founder of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, she has long been a trailblazer in reshaping the narrative of jazz and creating space for underrepresented voices. This is the second Candid Records release from Carrington since her critically acclaimed album, New STANDARDS Vol. 1, which was celebrated by NPR, Billboard, The Guardian, Stereogum, Jazziz, andthe Boston Globe for its bold sound and groundbreaking ambition, and won the GRAMMY AWARD for Best Instrumental Jazz Album in 2023.
About Candid Records:
From 1960-1963, founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the Candid Records label. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings – from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now. Since its relaunch in 2021 the label has reissued over 30 titles to high critical acclaim. Thanks to brilliant new releases, Candid has received four GRAMMY® awards – 2024 winners the Count Basie Orchestra, 2023 winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Shorter, and 2022 winner Eliane Elias. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality music that is synonymous with its elite heritage. Learn more at www.candidrecords.com
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