_“You put that fuckin' mouthpiece into that bell again, I'm gonna take your fuckin' horn and break it across my knee!”_Big band leader Buddy Rich was regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time. He also kicked his band's ass whenever the mood took him. And by all accounts, it took him regularly.I first heard of Buddy Rich through the Seinfeld DVDs. A misty-eyed Jerry Seinfeld spends a
More >
If Buddy Rich never played anything but this medley, he would still be regarded as the world's greatest jazz drummer. As originally arranged by Bill Holman, this medley includes the Overture and the songs "Cool," "Something's Coming," and "Somewhere." Of particular interest is the drum solo, one of the most famous aspect of this medley as well as a showcase for Buddy Rich's dexterity, control o...
More >
This song came on my media player via shuffle today and It hit me that this is one of those rare songs that in my opinion, EVERY music lover should have in his or her collection. If you don't have it you can get it here by the way...http://satisfiedmind.multiply.com/music/item/1323What other tunes, from any and all genres, would you guys consider essential for any music fanatic to have??I have ...
More >
Not to be confused with the lovely 1923 song "Mexicali Rose" by Helen Stone and Jack Tenny, "Mexicali Rose was written for Buddy Rich to debut with his new big band by Harry Betts. It became identified with the Rich band for many years. It has a semblance to Lalo Schifrin's theme for "Mannix" except the tv show debut some time later. The opening is for swinging saxes with a Latin heat and a sup...
More >
Trombonist John Boice writes a chart for "Sister Sadie" which was a standby for many years with the Rich band. In this treatment, Jay Corre provides an incendiary, virile tenor sax solo which relies heavily on blues riffs. Bobby Shew is also heard to magnificent effect on his stratospheric trumpet as Rich spurs the band onward with some great drumming. Add to that a brief solo by guitarist Barr...
More >
Bill Potts wrote a piece which takes its title after Buddy Rich's nick name "Big Swing Face." This is a swinging work that has a Basie-like sound with loads of call and response between saxes and brass. John Bunch at the piano gets first crack at a solo that crackles with excitement. Daniel Quill plays an angular alto sax solo. Saxes and brass are loose and swinging with Bobby Shew (who was par...
More >
Although it has words by Jack Pettis, Billy Meyers and Elmer Schoebel, "Bugle Call Rag" has been a showpiece for every important drummer ever since the song came out in 1923. As arranged by Bill Holman, the time honored bugle calls signal a death defying drum solo by Buddy Rich that kicks the entire band into high gear with precision and enough energy to light the entire planet and the moon and...
More >
Oliver Nelson wrote "More Soul" in response to the music and scene at the time of this performance in 1966-7. It begins with a pervading riff in the saxes with a superb funky piano stylings of John Bunch before tenor sax man Jay Corre comes in with a blues tinged performance. Barry Zweig comes in with an equally blues inflected rendition that is very brief but telling performance. The band play...
More >
Being up tight is one of the most durable of phrases from the 1960s with little changing in attitude and meaning in the intervening years. Beginning with Buddy Rich's incendiary drumming, Oliver Nelson writes another contemporary sounding chart with Jay Corre playing a scalding solo on his tenor sax that rises above a churning orchestral background. There many cross references to the current ro...
More >
Buddy Rich (1917 - 1987) was rightfully called "the world's greatest drummer." That title barely scratches the surface of a man whose outward image as leader of a fusion jazz orchestra overshadowed much of what he was about as a musician. A 1994 album entitled "Burning For Rich" spotlighted mostly rockers who had little understanding of what made Rich a drummer. Their un-rhythmic performances w...
More >
The days of radio in the 1960s had changed radically since the network days of the 1930s and 1940s. Drama, comedy, variety and game shows were no longer being offered. Instead, the affiliated stations were playing more and more music geared to a younger audience. Music radio on NBC radio had a beacon program named "Monitor" which ran on the weekdays and weekends with big name hosts such as Henr...
More >
Another composition receiving its debut that evening was "Willowcrest" by Bob Florence who had been working with his own band along with Buddy's at Pacific Jazz. It's a brooding opus opening with the saxes blowing up a wistful breeze against a steady, grooving beat. Watch for solos by trumpeter Bobby Shew set against just Buddy and rhythm before Jay Corre on tenor sax plays a desperate sounding...
More >
Just some fun for all with Buddy Rich and his daughter.
More >
Next on the griddle is "Basically Blues" written by Phil Wilson in the Neal Hefti-way for the Count Basie big band with John Bunch playing in the Basie style: lean, spare yet with great personality. Listen to those saxes as they play with great unanimity in their riff with the trumpets playing a counter melody that soars above the ensemble. Trombonist James Trimble plays a wonderful blues-tinge...
More >
George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" has been a favorite of a wide array of listeners from all persuasions for many years since its 1935 premiere in Boston. In this setting by the band's trombonist John Boice, the overwhelming sorrow is brought to the fore with Boice playing soulfully on his trombone. The band accompanies him with strength and power yet never overshadows Boice in the least.
More >
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
