Max Roach Solo – I’ll Remember April

I’ll Remember April drum solo transcription – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Max Roach’s drum solo on “I’ll Remember April”, from Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street. Every phrase is written out in clean, print-ready drum sheet music.

About I'll Remember April drum sheet music

“I’ll Remember April” is a jazz standard from 1941 that became a favourite of bebop players. The Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet recorded a blistering version on At Basin Street, with Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone.

Max Roach solos at a blistering tempo of around 300 bpm, yet every phrase is clear and melodic. It is a masterclass in bebop phrasing: motifs are stated and developed, the form is never lost, and the whole kit is used to make music, not just speed.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

Every bar of this I'll Remember April drum transcription comes from the original recording. Instead of an approximate groove with a couple of fills, you get the whole drum part – so if you need I'll Remember April drum notes that sound like the record when you play them, this is the version to use.

The sheet music is professionally engraved and easy to read on a music stand or on a tablet. Each part of the song is clearly labelled, and repeats with first- and second-time endings keep the layout compact, so you spend less time turning pages and more time playing.

Song facts

• Artist: Max Roach
• Album: Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street (1956)
• Drummer: Max Roach
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 300
• Style: bebop jazz drum solo

What you get

Your I'll Remember April drum sheet music download includes:

• The full song, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording
• Clearly labelled song sections
• Professionally engraved, print-ready PDF
• Instant download after purchase

How to practise I'll Remember April on drums

Here is a practice plan that works well for I'll Remember April:

1. Listen many times. Sing the phrases before playing them.
2. Practise very slowly. Learn the solo at half speed or slower.
3. Learn phrase by phrase. Join phrases only when each is secure.
4. Keep it swinging. Even slowly, play with a swing feel.
5. Build up gradually. Raise the tempo step by step towards ♩ ≈ 300.
6. Play along with the record. Match Roach’s phrasing and dynamics.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Learning I'll Remember April by ear or from a free tab usually means guessing the details – which fill goes where, what the hi-hat is doing, how a section ends. Accurate sheet music takes the guesswork out: the rhythms are exact, the song structure is clear, and you can focus on playing instead of decoding.

Who is this sheet music for?

This transcription is for advanced jazz drummers, jazz students and teachers, and anyone who wants to learn bebop vocabulary from one of its founders.

About Max Roach

Max Roach was one of the founders of bebop drumming, playing with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell. He co-led the Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet and later made landmark albums such as We Insist! Freedom Now Suite.

More jazz drum sheet music

Want more than one song? The Max Roach Drum Solo Transcriptions Collection includes I'll Remember April together with other songs, at a lower price than buying them one by one. You can also get other jazz songs one by one: What Is This Thing Called Love, Rhythm, Hard Wired and Jazz Crimes. See them all on the jazz drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the complete I'll Remember April drum part?

Yes. The whole song is transcribed note-for-note from the record, including every fill, as heard on Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street.

Is I'll Remember April drum sheet music a tab or real notation?

It is real drum notation on a five-line staff, the standard way drum parts are written. If you are used to tabs, it is worth the switch – notation shows the rhythm exactly, which tabs can’t.

How is the sheet music delivered?

As a PDF download. The link shows up as soon as you complete checkout and is emailed to you as well.

What tempo is I’ll Remember April?

Very fast – around ♩ ≈ 300. Learn it slowly first.

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