Buddy Rich
When it came to technique, speed, power, and the ability to put together incredible drum solos, Buddy Rich lived up to the billing of "the world's greatest drummer." Although some other drummers were more innovative, in reality none were in his league even during the early days. A genius, Buddy Rich started playing drums in vaudeville as "Traps, the Drum Wonder" when he was only 18 months old; he was completely self-taught. Rich performed in vaudeville throughout his childhood and developed into a decent singer and a fine tap dancer. But drumming was his purpose in life, and by 1938 he had discovered jazz and was playing with Joe Marsala's combo. Rich was soon propelling Bunny Berigan's orchestra, he spent most of 1939 with Artie Shaw (at a time when the clarinetist had the most popular band in swing), and then from 1939-1945 (except for a stint in the military) he was making history with Tommy Dorsey. During this era it became obvious that Buddy Rich was the king of drummers, easily dethroning his friend Gene Krupa. Rich had a bop-ish band during 1945-1947 that did not catch on, toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic, recorded with a countless number of all-stars in the 1950s for Verve (including Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Art Tatum, and Lionel Hampton), and worked with Les Brown, Charlie Ventura, Tommy Dorsey (1954-1955), and Harry James (off and on during 1953-1966). A heart attack in 1959 only slowed him down briefly and, although he contemplated becoming a full-time vocalist, Rich never gave up the drums.
In 1966, Buddy Rich beat the odds and put together a successful big band that would be his main outlet for his final 20 years. His heart began giving him trouble starting in 1983, but Rich never gave his music less than 100 percent and was still pushing himself at the end. A perfectionist who expected the same from his sidemen (some of whom he treated cruelly), Buddy Rich is definitively documented in Mel Tormé's book Traps the Drum Wonder. His incredible playing can be viewed on several readily available videotapes, although surprisingly few of his later big band albums have been made available yet on CD.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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This Ones For Basie
Jazz - Erschienen bei Firefly Entertainment am 05.05.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Live Performances
Jazz - Erschienen bei Good Time Records am 03.03.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Drum Masters - Rich and Roach
Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Clifford Brown
Jazz - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 25.08.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Buddy Rich Sings Johnny Mercer
Pop - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 07.02.2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Buddy Rich Just Sings
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 01.01.1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Giant Steps
Jazz - Erschienen bei Firefly Entertainment am 05.05.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
This Ones For Basie
Jazz - Erschienen bei Mile End am 05.05.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rags To Riches (Live)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Phoenix USA am 01.11.2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Drum Madness
Jazz - Erschienen bei Burning Fire am 28.04.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Swinging Buddy Rich: West Coast All-Star Sessions
Jazz - Erschienen bei Fresh Sound Records am 11.11.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jazz Anthology (Original Recordings)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Miradas Records am 06.02.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz After Midnight
Jazz - Erschienen bei Silver Classics Jazz am 24.03.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rich Versus Roach
Bebop - Erschienen bei Firefly Entertainment am 17.09.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Lester Young/Buddy Rich Trio (2018 Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei AVID Jazz am 06.07.2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
& Buddy Rich
Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa & Buddy Rich
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Room am 18.12.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo