C&L's Late Night Music Club With Buddy Rich
By Logan Murphy Sunday Sep 06, 2009 7:00pmYeah, I'm that guy -- a guitarist who loves to get behind a drum set and pound away. For decades I have taken every opportunity to jump behind the kit before sound check or in the studio and pretend that I'm good at it...and I would like to thank the many drummers who have tolerated my unintelligible bludgeoning of their very expensive kits over the years. (in my own defense, they always knew they could pick up any of my axes and shred anytime they wanted)
I've come to accept the fact that all dreams don't come true, but if they did, I would want to play drums just like Buddy Rich. There's a lot of Buddy's work out there on the tubes, but this particular solo from 1970 will always be my favorite.
There are so many great drummers and percussionists to choose from. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments.
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Carl Palmer of Emmerson Lake and Palmer. Buddy is great and so was Gene Krupa Sing Sing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9J5Zt2Obko.
Carl Palmer always rushed his fills. Booo.
Also funny as hell, one show on Tonight with Johnny Carson and guests Rich and Don Rickles who Carson referred to Mr. Warmth and Mr. Humble. I could not stop laughing at this trio.
I seen Buddy live at least 6 times and was just blown away by his band.
for his time there were few better, he inspired me to start playing.
these three guys, on the other hand, convinced me to quit:
dave weckl - none more technically perfect
steve gadd - no better groove player
but
vinnie colaiuta is the most explosive, fire-breathing drummer alive.
amazing no one has mentioned any of these three monsters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln6b_nBM-V8
CLAMS !!
...and SAXOPHONES?! You've gotta be KIDDING ME!
;)
Much love to Traps, but respect to the originators: Jo Jones, Baby Dodds, and Chick Webb.
john wright, drummer for nomeansno and singer for their alter-egos, the hanson brothers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxzzsfkCyJs
I love Buddy's playing. When I was 10 years old my father played "Keep the customer satisfied" and his drum solo on the record was so great. It inspired me to start playing drums. YET...I have to say that in today's world we're living in a golden age of drum set playing. There's things that guys are playing today that no one in Buddy's era would have imagined to play...even if they could have. This is not a knock on the older greats. Today's players are standing on the shoulders of giants but when you see guys like Tony Royster, Johnny Rabb and Marco Minneman it seems like you're seeing drum set playing taken to the next level. My favorite right now and probably for a long time coming is Jojo Mayer. The guy is so f'ing solid in all of his limbs, he's fluid has impeccable timing, is very creative and grooves like hell. He's an alien. Check out his videos on youtube. For my money there's not a better drummer on the planet.
Miles Davis - Herbie Hancock - Wayne Shorter - Ron Carter - Tony Williams
Stockholm 1963 -
the great quintet…
here
Billy Martin is one of my favorite percussionists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wg6m-ko6o and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1BPIg4HCy8
yay for Alice X for the Tony Williams nod! you could also add Jack DeJohnette too if yer a Miles fan.
other favorites include 2 Zappa drummers, Terry Bozio and Chester Thompson.
forgot the Jack link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuUIIgjuP9Y (this is smoking btw)
DeJohnette indeed!!
I caught him two nights in a row in March 1979 with Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, featuring David Murray, Arthur Blythe and Peter Warren, at Seventh Avenue South in NYC. Some of the very finest live music I've ever experienced! It was the very week they were recording the Special Edition Lp for ECM. A true epiphany for me!
oh yah Tony Williams
Miles with Tony Williams is the stuff. However, Alice x, the video clip you posted is 1967 not 1963. Its all good whatever the year!
I was using the video channel id of 1963. I was uncertain just off the top of my head but you are probably correct. The others joined Miles in '63 but Wayne didn't join until 1964.
That was a great group. Tony Williams added a voice unlike anyone before him.
I am not exactly a fan of Miles, but several of his bands reached new high points. This is the one that for me, reached THE pinnacle.
More from the same concert, I believe, here
Ho
Leee
Cr@p!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=47yxLg2RyXM
Neil is a local boy round here. Ive seen Rush numerous many times and Neil always puts out. Rush isnt my favourite band but Neil sure deserves his name being up there will all the other greats. He just became a Dad again recently too. Alex Lifeson just turned 58 so Neils getting up there too. I have seen Keith Moon, Carl Palmer, and Bill Bruford too over the years but id say the best small kit drummer i ever seen was Don Brewer from Grand Funk. He can really lay down a beat and keep it going with but a few drums.
I saw Lee Michaels perform in the summer of 1969, accompanied by Frosty on drums. Sitting in an arena, right behind the stage, I had a great view of Frosty's work on the drums. He blew my 13-year-old mind! Move ahead about 14 years, I had moved to Austin, TX, and my first night out on the town for music, I caught the W.C.Clark Blues Review at Antone's. Who was playing the drums that night, but Barry "Frosty" Smith. I talked to him that night. Since that time I've gotten to know Barry a bit and I've listened to him play with all sorts of Austin's best musicians. And each time I've seen him play, I'm just amazed. It's like the man is putting on a drumming clinic or something. I just love Barry Smith's drumming. Forty years since the first time I saw him play, he's never been less than impressive!!
I had an album of Max Roach vs Buddy Rich.
On there they did a dueling trade of solos to "Sing, Sing, Sing" which they called "Sing, Sing, Sing with a Swing"
if you listen to the traded offs Buddy pounded harder but Max's technical abilities and finesse where beyond Buddy's.
I attended a jazz clinic Buddy gave for students and he gave praise for his technique to Ed Shaughnessy.
(bass player who is always glad to help set drum levels by striking the skins at sound checks)
Buddy Rich is the heat. Neil Pert is incredible. Neil was an influence for Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmbayHHUPcA&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNuCtzIWMtE&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxuYIiGqXWk&fe...
And one with the band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJkUj7U3DIA&NR...
Here, opening up the song Indiscipline with King Crimson.
And here, where he pretty much runs circles around Phil Collins.
And here with ABHW, kicking total butt with Long Distance Runaround
Bruford: the god of match grip and single stroke rolls.
it's not really that difficult to run circles around Phil Collins. I never understood why anyone thought Collins was that good. He was a competent drummer with a good fill here or there but as average as it gets.
He could also be a world-class jerk, to hear stories of him. But he proudly wore a McGovern button during the '72 campaign!
Nice entry. He had been around a long time already. My favorite:
Metronome All-Stars 1941: "One O'Clock Jump"/"Bugle Call Rag", recorded by Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Cootie Williams, Tommy Dorsey, J. C. Higginbotham, Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, Toots Mondello, Coleman Hawkins, Tex Beneke, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, Artie Bernstein, Buddy Rich.
Tightest arrangement of swing I've ever heard.
Here he is with UTOTEM playing "One Nail Draws Another" which is a weird and brilliant mix of Messiaen, Schoenberg, Bartok, King Crimson, and Univers Zero. Unfortunately the camera man seemed focused on Emily Hay. Who is very cute, true enough, but there's lots to look at in this band, and his focus on her is unfortunate.
And speaking of Univers Zero, here's them playing a few years ago - the last few minutes of Presage from UZED. BRILLIANT song.
To quote Bill Bruford: if rock is three chords in four, then why not four chords in five?
Buddy was a great beater and really could pound out a rhythm, but "King of the Drums"? Not even close.
I need to hear more tone color and melody from the drums than Buddy ever really gets going. Just keeping time, fills and splashes is not enough for a "King".
Try:
Tony Williams
Max Roach
Chick Webb
and
Elvin!
Billy Cobham
Jack DeJohnette
Don Moye
and
Billy Hart
...was apparently a very big jerk as was stated.
I have always like Bruford as well and Stewart Copeland, who i have always thought was great. I also like just the good, straight ahead rock drummers like Mick Fleetwood and Charlie Watts. I like guys who can power a band and have a good "feel" to them. Saw Jerry Marrota play with Peter Gabriel on the Security tour in 1982 and he was amazing. Jeff Porcaro was pretty good. Nick Cave's drummer Thomas Wydler is very good, have seen him in concert a couple of times.
The best drummer who isn't a drummer by trade but plays really well is Stevie Wonder. The guy did some great stuff on his classic 70s albums. You might be surprised the tracks he is playing on.
Stevie Wonder played drums on most of his classic 70s tracks. Some crazy hihat work. Another great non-drummer/drummer is Bootsy Collins yall!
..is very good. I work with a drummer and he just saw Brian's band live a couple of months ago and just raved about him. Elvin Jones was really good. It's late or I am sure I could think of more.
Dafnis Prieto blows my mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_w-gX0Tozs
as a kid i remember buddy rich would appear on the various variety shows and always do this skit in which he is armed with nothing but drumsticks and whacked everything on the stage and set, playing door jams, railings, windows, etc. as he just walked around the room. i thought that was pretty cool and made me want to play the drums.
There is a truly impressive list of drummers in the above comments - but I have to admit I will always have a soft spot for Ginger Baker because he's the one that got me listening to the percussion in the music I was hearing.
I also feel required to admit that I never cared that much for Buddy Rich and the video serves to show why: Pretty much the entire first half was taken up with showing how fast he could play rather than establishing any rhythmic patterns.
But still a drum set.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uVOaq-cXgc
I joined just to post this Talvin Singh track. I don't know that he's the best tabla player around (I'm partial to Sandeep Das, and of course Zakir Hussein), but he makes great music and has lightning fast hands.
29 entries and no mention of Bonham? He MADE Zep! Saw them live in '74 and he was the only one who seemed to know what he was doing. They were good. He was awesome.
Then there's the guy who played for Peter Gabriel on the Secret World tour. Hold on... Manu Katche. While his solo's are great, most impresive is the fact that he can do mind bendingly syncopated runs in context and never drop a beat.
Finally, I, too, am a guitarist, 43 years, who ran to the drum set every time our drummer got up to take a leak. Still keep a mean 4-4 on my steering wheel to this day ;-).
Jo Jones -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fALg4cXQGM
Gene Krupa -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9J5Zt2Obko
Joe Morello -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0XED9VI2cg&NR=1
like it when he whacks that mic.
Perhaps I'm drawing an artificial line between rock and jazz. Art Blakey always draws my attention, and that feels right with jazz; that the drummer is just as much a musician as the other members of the band.
But in Rock-n-roll, prima donna drummers are really annoying. Neil Pert is in the wrong band, trying to make rock-n-roll art. For my money Ringo Starr is the best rock drummer and should serve as the model to all the rest. Just keep the rhythm, get a little creative through the psychedelic stuff but always come back to the basic boom-chink.
Here's Art Blakey rippin' it up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOc_EwdE7Kk
And here's Ringo doing exactly what a rock drummer should (highlight starts at 3:15: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i6kGO9ZnqQ&fe....)
George Hurley? Oh yeah. I'm a big Hurley fan. One of my favorite most underrated drummers of all time. The guy deserves recognition. He had fast hands and rarely played the obvious beat. His playing seemed to demand being heard as a lead instrument and not just a backing one.
I agree with you but the same has to go for guitar players, bass players, keyboards, etc. Trying to "improve" rock music with yer fancy book learnin' is the surest way to kill it.
What does "boogie" mean?
Here he is having a good time.
In the mid 70's, I was 3-4 years old and my dad played alto sax in Buddy's band, so I used to get behind Buddy Rich's drum set and pound away, sometimes sitting on his lap.
Dave Lombardo
Rey Washam
George Hurley
Billy Stevenson
Joe Bonamassa has new DVD of his Royal Albert show coming next month. He beefed up the percussion by adding Anton Fig to the show along with his regular awesome drummer Bogie Bowles. Some guy named Clapton drops in to do Further On Up The Road with Joe too. DVD is produced in high def by Kevin Shirley. I cant wait. This might be Joes moment when the rest of the planet realizes that Joe knows...LOL
Sure Phil Collins is only a decent (if very groovy) drummer, but any drummer who can sing his ass off like that (Levon, Don) deserves the respect.
Jim Gordon. Have seen him play many times during the past 25 years. Simply amazing.
...is Simon Phillips, I used to practice my guitar work to a drum lesson video he produced in the 90's.
Amazing drummer, one of the best.
http://www.drummerconnection.com/featured/you...
I ain't got rhythm. Which makes me appreciate those who do.
Buddy Rich has been a favorite of mine since my early years in the 50's.
I like to pick up vinyl albums of the sessions done in the 50's, many of the players got together and did a session over a couple of days and pressed the results.
The Buddy Rich Hal Roach comparisons are always going to go on. I like them both for the talents they have. Good stuff.
Ella.
Hearing Roy Haynes behind Trane on the live version of My Favorite Things" was a life-changing experience.
I'm astonished that nobody mentioned Tain Watts.
Art Blakey had the message and the medicine for whatever ails the spirit. His playing and his talent sharking were an incomparable combination.
Blakey's influence is everywhere. Last week I went looking for a piece of music I hadn't heard in a while. Checked it under Sonny Stitt. Not there. Searched the entire C drive. Still not there. Went to online music, by title. Second thing which came up was, of course, Art Blakey, and Stitt was listed as sideman. Went back to the iPod and found it immediately, embarrassed. Jazz indexing: First check Art, then try everything else.
Too many drummers out there. One of my favs is Peter Erskine from Weather Report.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5c3H6LpLZI
Philly Jo Jones on the Sonny Rollins LP Newk's Time always blew me away.
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