I agree completely, Acman3; and great clips, btw. There is a danger in, in any way, suggesting that the importance of players (like Roach) who were "not known as leaders" took a back seat, in the real scheme of things, to the guys in the front line who oftentimes get the limelight. The players themselves don't see it that way. In the cauldron of creative musical activity that is the Jazz scene there are many players who shaped its direction and added fuel to the fire underneath it that sometimes are relegated to the status of "sidemen". Drummers and bass players are the usual targets of this thinking. Roach is one of the most important jazz musicians who ever lived and as you point out a great leader in his own right. The magic that is possible and happens when a rhythm section is composed of players with a similar musical vision allows the full expression of the "leader"'s vision. The projects where the drummer is expected to do no more than go "ca-chink, ca-chink" are usually not very good no matter who the leader is. I can't imagine what Miles' 60's quintet would have produced without Tony Williams in the rhythm section; or Trane's quartet without Elvin Jones.
The other danger is in potentially shortchanging the contribution of someone like Mingus as a player because of the excellence of the writing. Sure, his writing and arranging was great, and that is what stands out out for many; but, digging a little deeper, I wonder what his recordings would sound like without the amazing propulsive feeling and dry sound in his bass playing bringing a distinctive feeling to the music overall and the playing of the sidemen?
Another player that doesn't get his due as a player because his writing and arranging were so great was Oliver Nelson. His "Blues And The Abstract Truth" is a masterpiece in Jazz writing and arranging as well as playing. He was a fantastic saxophone player and his playing, as well as being very soulful, always demonstrated the discipline and logic that are so essential to the art of composition and arranging. Few players played with as much control of thematic development in an improvised solo. One of my very favorite records with probably my favorite rendition of "What's New"; even Dexter Gordon's takes a back seat to the one on "Meet Oliver Nelson". Beautiful record:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLddfRe84PI3iMpV4np6EO-x10y5-vMXQC&v=OCjbjGXrkyI
