The Buddy Rich Big Band - The Best of Buddy Rich: The Pacific jazz years (1997)

All tracks have been digitally remastered by Bob Belden and Dean Pratt. Recorded between 1966 and 1970. Personnel: Buddy Rich (drums); Herb Ellis, Barry Zweig, Richie Resnicoff (guitar); Don Menza (flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Pete Yellin, Charles Owens (flute, alto saxophone); Gene Quill, Art Pepper (clarinet, alto saxophone); Marty Flax (clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Jay Corre (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jimmy Mosher (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Ernie Watts, Quinn Davis, Richie Cole , Joe Romano (alto saxophone); Robert Keller (tenor saxophone, percussion); Don Englert, Ron Fudoli (tenor saxophone); Meyer Hirsch (baritone saxophone, percussion); Joe Calo, John Laws (baritone saxophone); James Trimble (trumpet, percussion); Chuck Findley, John Madrid, George Zonce, Russell Iverson, Dave Culp, John Sottile, John Scottile, Nat Pavone, Bob Yance, Bill Prince, Yoshito Murakami, Al Porcino, Sal Marquez, Mike Price, Ollie Mitchell, Joe Giorgianni, Kenneth Faulk, Bobby Shew (trumpet); John Boice, Jack Spurlock, Vince Diaz, Tony Lada, Rick Stepton, Sam Burtis (trombone); Dennis Good, Mike Waverley, Don Switzer, Peter Graves (bass trombone); Joe Azarello, Russ Turner, Ray Starling, John Bunch (piano); Rick Laird , Gary Walters (electric bass). Liner Note Author: Dean Pratt. Recording information: 1966-1970. Arrangers: Dick Grove; Don Menza; Don Piestrup; Pete Meyers; Arthur M. Wiggins; Allyn Ferguson; Phil Wilson; Bill Reddie.

CD Universe

Buddy Rich, Drummer and Tallented Performer from the day he became 16 months old and performed with his parents to when he turned 19 and showed Gene Krupa up in the Tommy Dorsey Band Was, and Always will be, the Worlds greatest Drummer. This album is a great compilation of peices Written and Covered by the Buddy Rich Band and recorded on the "PAcific Jazz" label. Among all the tunes there is amazing controll all the way through the horns to the Rhythm Section (naturally). Songs like "Rotten Kid" are an amazing contribution to the jazz world. The performance of an old Cannonball Adrely/Joe Zabidou Tune "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" in a fresh new arangement performed live at Ceasars Palace prings a Bluey/Gospel feel this album. And The most amazing pecie, "Channel One Suite" is the only known recording of this peice that exists. Starting with a Latin/swing feel, going into oppen solos by Buddy, then into a balad in the middle with Don Menza on the Sax, only to end with a tennor cadenza and flow into an even stronger, high speed Latin/Swing section to end the chart with 2 amazing open solos by Buddy Rich. This album is easily, out of my own personal colection of 32 Buddy Rich Discs and 4 Records, one of the best ever released. I encourang eanyone weather a musician or just an average Jazz lover to invest in this album. You will NOT be dissapointed.

Amazon's customer review

I've always been interested in good drumming. From metal drummers like Gene Hoglan and Dave Lombardo, to prog. drummers like Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart, I have always admired guys that did more than just keep time. However, it wasn't until I bought this album that I realized I had no idea what drumming really was. Buddy Rich was often referred to as "the world's greatest drummer", and that was certainly no exaggeration. I have never heard anyone, in any kind of music, play like this guy did (there are a few guys in death metal that can match him in speed alone, but that's it). Not only was he incredibly fast and intricate, but he could lay back and groove very well too. A lot of his music was merely a vehicle for showing off his incredible prowess, but he was a very dynamic drummer as well. He could do it all.
This collection is a great example of the diversity that could be found in his music throughout the course of his career. You've got straight-out swing tracks, like "Rotten Kid" and "Love for Sale", more laid-back Miles Davis-type songs like "Diabolus", and even some rock/fusion stuff, like "Chelsea Bridge" and "Mercy Mercy Mercy", which add piano and guitar to the traditional big-band lineup.

However, the stand-out tracks, for me, are definitely the two epics, "West Side Story" and "Channel One Suite". Both around 12 minutes, they feature multiple tempo changes, excellent work from the horn section (the latter has an incredible saxophone solo spot), and of course some unbelievable drum solos from Buddy.

Apparently, Buddy was more of a performer than a songwriter, as most of these songs were originally composed by someone else, but the way he makes them his own is quite amazing. The swing version of "Greensleeves" is a perfect example. The melody is played on horns, and Buddy works in another of his jaw-dropping solo spots, and it sounds as if he wrote it himself. Very cool indeed.

I highly recommend this album, not only to fans of jazz, but to everyone who appreciates excellent drumming. I'm generally not a huge fan of the swing-style jazz, I'm more into the modern fusion type stuff, but I still think this is a highly enjoyable album from start to finish.

Amazon's customer review