Buddy Rich - Argo, Emarcy & Verve Small Group Sessions (1953-61) [7CD Set] (2005) {Mosaic MD7-232}

Buddy Rich, the most remarkable drummer to ever play jazz, can easily have his career divided into three. During 1937-1945 he was a notable sideman with big bands including those of Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, and Tommy Dorsey. In 1966 he formed his own successful orchestra that capitulated him to his greatest fame. During the 20 years in between, Rich led short-lived bebop big bands, a variety of combos, toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic, recorded with all-star groups, and had stints with the orchestras of Dorsey and Harry James. This seven-CD set draws its material from Rich's second period and it can also be divided into two. The first half has Rich recording for producer Norman Granz in a variety of combos.

Rich interacts with trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison in a pair of octets (with Benny Carter or Willie Smith on altos), a quintet with altoist Sonny Criss, a Basie-oriented big band, and another quintet with pianist Jimmy Rowles. Edison is in peak form throughout. In addition, Rich heads an octet that has four of Count Basie's sidemen of the time (trumpeters Thad Jones and Joe Newman, tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, and rhythm guitarist Freddie Green) plus tenor great Ben Webster, the remarkable pianist Oscar Peterson, and bassist Ray Brown. A live quartet outing with the exciting tenor Flip Phillips acts as a bridge to the Emarcy and Argo recordings of Rich's working bands of 1960-1961. A septet arranged by Ernie Wilkins introduces vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, who is also heard with Rich in a sextet with flutist Sam Most, and a group with Most and trumpeter Rolf Ericson. One date with the Most-Mainieri lineup was released for the first time with this box. While Rich has his share of solo space throughout, playing ridiculously virtuosic solos, this swinging music contains much more than just drum solos, with all of the key principals being well featured. This limited-edition box set, which leaves out Rich's four vocal albums of the period (he does take a lone vocal on "Bongo, Bass and Guitar"), a collaboration with fellow drummer Max Roach, and a pair of big-band dates (including one co-led by Gene Krupa), has virtually everything else that Rich recorded as a leader during 1950-1965. Highly recommended and (as is typical for Mosaic) perfectly conceived.

Tracklist & Personnel & DISCOGRAPHY:
DISC ONE
1. Let's Fall In Love (A) 2:47
(H. Arlen-T. Koehler)
2. Me And My Jaguar (A) 3:38
(Buddy Rich)
3. Just Blues (A) 6:28
(B. Rich-H. Edison)
4. Sweets' Opus No. 1 (alt tk) (B) 2:34
(Harry Edison)
5. Sweets' Opus No. 1 (B) 2:34
(Harry Edison)
6. Bongo, Bass And Guitar (B) 3:27
(T. Adair-M. Dennis)
7. Strike It Rich (alt tk) (B) 5:01
(Johnny Mandel)
8. Strike It Rich (B) 6:29
(Johnny Mandel)
9. Sportin' Life (Sweetie Pie) (B) 2:35
(Harry Edison)
10. Sunday (C) 10:45
(Conn-Krueger-Miller-Styne)
11. The Monster (C) 11:05
(Buddy Rich)
12. Ballad Medley (C) 12:13
Over The Rainbow (E. Y. Harburg-H, Arlen)
You've Changed (W. Carey-C. Fischer)
Time After Time (J. Styne-S. Cahn)
This Is Always (M. Gordon-H. Warren)
My Heart Stood Still (L. Hart-R. Rodgers)
I Hadn't Anyone Till You (Ray Noble)

DISC TWO
1. Sonny And Sweets (D) 4:38
(H. Edison-B. Rich)
2. The Two Mothers (D) 6:01
(H. Edison-B. Rich)
3. A Smooth One (D) 9:10
(Benny Goodman)
4. Broadway (D) 11:53
(Bird-McRae-Woode)
5. Nice Work If You Can Get It (E) 4:05
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
6. Willow Weep For Me (E) 7:02
(Ann Ronnell)
7. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me (E) 5:11
(A. Dubin-H. Warren)
8. Now's The Time (E) 4:29
(Charlie Parker)
9. The Yellow Rose Of Brooklyn (E) 4:31
(Harry Edison)
10. All Sweets (E) 2:09
(Harry Edison)
11. Easy Does It (E) 8:16
(T. Young-S. Oliver)
12. Barney's Bugle (E) 9:39
(Buddy Rich)



DISC THREE
1. Shorty George (F) 5:10
(C. Basie-A. Gibson)
2. Jump For Me (F) 5:40
(Count Basie)
3. Blues For Basie (F) 7:15
(Harry Edison)
4. 9:20 Special (F) 4:33
(B. Harding-E. Warren)
5. Blue And Sentimental (G) 4:45
(Basie-David-Livingston)
6. Blue And Sentimental (45 tk) (G) 3:38
(Basie-David-Livingston)
7. Down For Double (G) 4:05
(Freddie Green)
8. Down For Double (45 tk) (G) 3:41
(Freddie Green)
9. Ain't It The Truth? (G) 2:57
(Basie-Harding-Palmer)
10. Jumpin' At The Woodside (G) 6:22
(Count Basie)

DISC FOUR
1. Lover Come Back To Me (H) 6:20
(S. Romberg-O. Hammerstein)
2. Topsy (H) 8:10
(E. Battle- E. Durham)
3. Undecided (H) 9:25
(S. Robin-C. Shavers)
4. Broadway (H) 8:10
(McRae-Bird-Woode)
5. Jumpin' At The Woodside (H) 10:11
(Count Basie)
6. Pent-Up House (I) 3:41
(Sonny Rollins)
7. Bloody Mary (I) 6:31
(Ernie Wilkins)
8. That's Rich Man (I) 5:28
(Ernie Wilkins)



DISC FIVE
1. Astronaut (I) 7:37
(Ernie Wilkins)
2. Straight No Chaser (I) 4:22
(Thelonious Monk)
3. A Night In Tunisia (I) 6:15
(D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli)
4. Miss Bessie's Cookin' (I) 5:18
(B. Rich-E. Wilkins)
5. Big Leg Mary (I) 5:46
(Ernie Wilkins)
6. A Swingin' Serenade (I) 4:06
(Ernie Wilkins)
7. Brainwashed (I) 5:01
(Ernie Wilkins)
8. Lulu's Back In Town (J) 5:48
(A. Dubin-H. Warren)
9. Will You Still Be Mine? (J) 4:40
(T. Adair-M. Dennis)
10. Fascinatin' Rhythm (J) 4:34
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
11. Makin' Whoopee (J) 4:21
(W. Donaldson-G. Kahn)
12. Misty (J) 5:04
(Erroll Garner)
13. Cheek To Cheek (J) 6:15
(Irving Berlin)

DISC SIX
1. Playtime (K) 6:09
(Sam Most)
2. Marbles (K) 5:46
(J. Morris-S. Most)
3. The Night Is Young And You're So Beautiful (L) 3:05
(Kahal-Rose-Suesse)
4. Little Susie (L) 5:02
(Ray Bryant)
5. R.B. (L) 4:50
(Mike Mainieri)
6. Angel Eyes (L) 3:50
(M. Dennis-E. Brent)
7. The Be-Bop Irishman (L) 5:05
(Ray Bryant)
8. Foxy (L) 3:09
(Sam Most)
9. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (L) 5:37
(O. Hammerstein-R. Rodgers)
10. The Way You Look Tonight (L) 4:34
(D.Fields-J.Kern)
11. Doxy (L) 2:53
(Sonny Rollins)
12. Mountain Greenery (L) 2:54
(L. Hart-R. Rodgers)



DISC SEVEN
1. Blowin' The Blues Away (N) 8:38
(Horace Silver)
2. B.R. Blues (M) 3:08
(Mike Mainieri)
3. Late Date (N) 5:08
(W. Maynard)
4. Caravan (M) 9:43
(Tizol-Mills-Ellington)
5. Young Blood (N) 5:55
(Mike Mainieri)
6. I Remember Clifford (N) 3:44
(Benny Golson)
7. Rose Room (M) 6:31
(A. Hickman-H. Williams)
8. Satin Doll (M) 5:49
(Ellington-Strayhorn-Mercer)
9. Lover Come Back To Me (M) 5:17
(S. Romberg-O. Hammerstein)
10. Afghan (N) 4:03
(Mike Mainieri)
11. If I Were A Bell (N) 3:27
(Frank Loesser)



DISCOGRAPHY
For the purposes of this discography, only first issues in the U.S. on 78, 45, 10" LP and 12" LPs are listed. EPs have been omitted unless they are the initial 45 release. All recordings are mono except where noted.
_______________________________________________________________________
(A) BUDDY RICH ALL STARS: Harry 'Sweets' Edison (tp), Milt Bernhart (tb), Benny Carter (as), George Auld (ts), Bob Lawson (bari), Jimmy Rowles (p), John Simmons (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Radio Recorders, LA, August 21, 1953
1266-2 Let's Fall In Love Clef 89094 (78)
1267-3 Me And My Jaguar -
1268-7 Just Blues Norg EPN 37
Note: All titles also on Norgran MGN 26 and MGN 1052.
________________________________________________________________________
(B) BUDDY RICH ALL STARS: Harry 'Sweets' Edison (tp), Milt Bernhart (tb), Willie Smith (as), Tom Brown (ts), Bob Poland (bari), Gerald Wiggins (p), Joe Comfort (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Radio Recorders, LA, August 27, 1954
1904-3 Sweets' Opus No. 1 previously unissued
1904-4 Sweets' Opus No. 1 Norg 148 (45), MGN 26, 1052
1905-1 Bongo, Bass And Guitar -1 Norg 126 (78)
1906-3 Strike It Rich previously unissued
1906-6 Strike It Rich Norg EPN 38, MGN 26, 1052
1907-3 Sportin' Life (Sweetie Pie) Norg 126 (78), MGN 26, 1021, 1052

-1 Edison (tp), Wiggins (p), Comfort (b), Jack Costanzo (bgo), Rich (vcl) only.

Note: Matrix 1905 has caused much confusion with its title. Discographies have incorrectly listed it as Piano, Bongos, Bass and Drums with guitarist Herb Ellis being added to the group; the lyric sung by Rich is Piano, Bongos, Bass and Drums; and in the Norgran ledgers and on the 78 label, it's listed as Bongos, Bass and Guitar.

In the Norgran ledgers, matrix 1906 was originally titled Hum Drum and has been mistitled in discographies as That's Rich.
________________________________________________________________________
(C) BUDDY RICH ENSEMBLE: Thad Jones, Joe Newman (tp), Ben Webster, Frank Wess (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Freddie Green (g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Fine Sound, NYC, May 16, 1955
2344-1 Sunday Norg MGN 1031, 1078
2345-1 The Monster - -
2346-1 Ballad Medley: -
Over The Rainbow
You've Changed
Time After Time
This Is Always
My Heart Stood Still
I Hadn't Anyone Till You


________________________________________________________________________
(D) BUDDY RICH QUINTET: Harry Edison (tp), Sonny Criss (as), Jimmy Rowles (p), John Simmons (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Radio Recorders, LA, August 26, 1955
2454-1 Sonny And Sweets Norg MGN 1052
2455-8 The Two Mothers -
2456-1 A Smooth One Norg MGN 1078
2457-3 Broadway -
________________________________________________________________________
(E) BUDDY RICH QUINTET: Harry Edison (tp), Jimmy Rowles (p), Barney Kessel (g), John Simmons (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Radio Recorders, LA, September 1, 1955
2478-2 Nice Work If You Can Get It Norg MGN 1038
2479-1 Willow Weep For Me Norg MGN 1052
2480-1 You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me Norg EPN 141, MGN 1038
2481-2 Now's The Time - -
2482-3 The Yellow Rose Of Brooklyn Norg EPN 141, MGN 1038
2483-2 All Sweets Norg 148 (45), MGN 1038
2484-4 Easy Does It Norg MGN 1038
2485-2 Barney's Bugle -
________________________________________________________________________
(F) BUDDY RICH AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Pete Candoli, Harry Edison, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Frank Rosolino (tb), Bob Enevoldsen (v-tb), Bob Cooper (ts), Buddy Collette (bari, fl), Jimmy Rowles (p), Bill Pittman (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Buddy Rich (d), Marty Paich (arr).
Radio Recorders, LA, August 24, 1956
2933-1 Shorty George
2934-3 Jump For Me
2935-5 Blues For Basie
2936-6 9:20 Special

Note: All titles issued on Norgran MGN 1086.
________________________________________________________________________
(G) BUDDY RICH AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Same as (F).
Radio Recorders, LA, August 25, 1956
2937-3 Blue And Sentimental Norg MGN 1086
2937-4 Blue And Sentimental Norg 153 (78, 45)
2938-4 Down For Double Norg MGN 1086
2938-5 Down For Double Norg 153 (78, 45)
2939-2 Ain't It The Truth? Norg MGN 1086
2940-4 Jumpin' At The Woodside -
________________________________________________________________________
(H) BUDDY RICH QUARTET: Flip Phillips (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Buddy Rich (d).
The Dream Bar at Johnina Hotel, Miami Beach, May or June 1957
22377 Lover Come Back To Me
22378 Topsy
22379 Undecided
22380 Broadway
22381 Jumpin' At The Woodside



Note: All titles issued on Verve MGV 8285. ________________________________________________________________________
(I) BUDDY RICH SEPTET: Markie Markowitz (tp), Willie Dennis (tb), Seldon Powell (ts), Mike Mainieri (vib), Dave McKenna (p), Earl May (b), Buddy Rich (d), Ernie Wilkins (arr).
Fine Sound, NYC, April 7 & 8, 1960
19886 Bloody Mary EmArcy MGE 26006
19887 That's Rich Man Wing SRW 16407
19888 Astronaut -
19889 Straight No Chaser EmArcy MGE 26006
19890 A Night In Tunisia -
19891 Miss Bessie's Cookin' -
19892 Pent-Up House previously unissued
19893 Big Leg Mary EmArcy MGE 26006
19894 A Swingin' Serenade -
19895 Brainwashed -
________________________________________________________________________
(J) BUDDY RICH AND HIS BUDDIES: Sam Most (cl, fl, as), Mike Mainieri (vib, arr), John Morris (p), Wilbur Wynne (g), Richard Evans (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago, October 3, 1960
10463 Will You Still Be Mine?
10464 Misty
10465 Lulu's Back In Town
10466 Cheek To Cheek
10467 Makin' Whoopee
10468 Fascinatin' Rhythm

Note: All titles issued on Argo LPS 676.
________________________________________________________________________
(K) BUDDY RICH AND HIS BUDDIES: Same as (J) except add Don Goldie (tp).
Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago, October 4, 1960
10469 Playtime Argo LPS 676
10470 Marbles -
________________________________________________________________________
(L) BUDDY RICH AND HIS BUDDIES: Sam Most (fl), Mike Mainieri (vib, arr), John Morris (p), Wyatt Ruther (b), Buddy Rich (d), Vince Marino (cga), Ernie Wilkins (arr).
prob. Chicago, c. January 1961
10833 The Night Is Young And You're So Beautiful (MM-arr)
10834 Little Susie
10835 R.B. (MM or EW-arr)
10836 Angel Eyes (MM-arr)
10837 The Irishman (MM or EW-arr)
10838 Foxy
10839 The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
10840 The Way You Look Tonight
10841 Doxie
10842 Mountain Greenery (MM-arr)

Note: This session was probably planned for release on Argo 683 but was never issued.
________________________________________________________________________
(M) BUDDY RICH AND HIS SEXTET: Rolf Ericson (tp), Sam Most (cl, fl, as), Mike Mainieri (vib, marimba, arr), Johnny Morris (p), Wyatt Ruther (b), Buddy Rich (d).
NYC, August 14, 1961
61VK354-1 Caravan (MM-arr) Verve V 8425
61VK355-3 Rose Room Verve (Jap) J25J-25158 (CD)
61VK356-2 B.R. Blues (MM-arr) Verve V 8425
61VK357-1 Satin Doll (MM-arr) Verve (Jap) J25J-25158 (CD)
61VK358-2 Lover Come Back To Me (MM-arr) -
________________________________________________________________________
(N) BUDDY RICH AND HIS SEXTET: Same as (M).
NYC, August 16, 1961
take 1 Blowin' The Blues Away Verve V6 8425
take 6 Late Date -
take 1 Young Blood (MM-arr) -
take 3 I Remember Clifford -
take 3 Afghan (MM-arr) Verve (Jap) J25J-25158 (CD)
take 5 If I Were A Bell (MM-arr) -

Note: Late Date was originally titled Pawn Ticket.


________________________________________________________________________

Album index:
10" LP:
Norgran MGN 26 The Swinging Buddy Rich

12" LPs:
Norgran MGN 1021 Our Best, Volume 2 (Various Artists)
Norgran MGN 1031 Sing and Swing with Buddy Rich
Norgran MGN 1038 Buddy and Sweets
Norgran MGN 1052. The Swinging Buddy Rich
Norgran MGN 1078 The Wailing Buddy Rich
Norgran MGN 1086 This One's for Basie
Verve MGV 8285. Buddy Rich in Miami
EmArcy MGE-26006 The Driver
Wing SRW-16407 The Rich Rebellion
Argo LPS-676 Playtime
Verve V6-8425 Blues Caravan

CD:
Verve (Jap) J25J-25158 (CD) Blues Caravan (with bonus tracks)

Original sessions produced by Norman Granz (A-G), Barney Kessel (H), Jack Tracy (I-L) and Creed Taylor (M, N).
Original recording engineer: Val Valentin (F,G), Ron Malo (J,K), Dick Olmstead (M,N).
Produced for release by Scott Wenzel
Production assistance: Joe Corsello
Executive Producer: Michael Cuscuna
Tape transfers: Ellen Fitton
Sessions M & N remixed from the original three-track tape by Ellen Fitton
Mastered using 24-bit resolution by Malcolm Addey at the Malcolm Addey Studio, New York City.
Sessions A-H and "Pent-Up House" from session I are mono. All other selections are stereo.

Special thanks to Buddy Bregman, Marge Champion, Joe Corsello, The Institute Of Jazz Studies, Mike Mainieri, Dan Morgenstern, Johnny Morris, Sam Most, Lou Perry and Jack Tracy.

All tracks courtesy of The Verve Music Group.

This compilation (p)2005 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings Inc., Santa Monica, CA 90404-U.S.A. Manufactured by Universal Music Enterprises. Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

©2005 Mosaic Records L.L.C., 35 Melrose Place, Stamford, CT 06902. All rights reserved.
Phone: 203-327-7111/Fax 203-323-3526/e-mail: info@mosaicrecords.com. Web site: www.mosaicrecords.com.

Producer's note:
No tape has survived of the takes of Blue and Sentimenta and Down for Double (session G) used for the 78 and 45 single releases. These have been dubbed from the best 45 pressing that we could locate.
Although session I is the first stereo date on this set, the previously unissued Pent-Up House exists only in mono form.