Search - Buddy Rich :: This One's for Basie

Buddy Says Thanks in a Big Way

William Faust | Columbus, Ohio | 07/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The mutual admiration society between Count Basie and Buddy Rich is well documented. Buddy sat in with Basie's band in the 40's but tore up the blank check the Count gave him for his services. Basie responded with an inscribed gold watch which I understand he wore all of his life (Source: Traps the Drum Wonder by Mel Torme). Anyway, I guess this was Rich's way of paying tribute to the Count. Recorded in 1956 in LA, this set of Basie standards is well conceived and executed. The all-star line-up of west coast studio jocks backing Buddy includes Frank Rosolino, Conrad Gozzo, Bob Cooper, Jimmy Rowles, a few others and of course the immortal Harry "Sweets" Edison who was also a Rich favorite. This session swings fairly well and benefits from the contributions of ace arranger Marty Paich. The only drawback - and it's minor - is that as a studio band these guys are a little too tight. Ordinarily this wouldn't matter but when you're doin' Basie, you gotta be loose! Still highly recommended."

Technique over power

L. Sokol | California, USA | 02/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this album because it's one of the few small group recordings I know of with Buddy. It's the most tasteful, controlled and technique oriented playing I've heard from him. Don't get me wrong, the CD swings! Afterall, it is a tribute to Basie. But the overwhelming power and runaway solosits of his later bands are replaced instead by straight ahead, clean charts that groove due to the masterful work of the musicians, rather than the number of them.This is a great CD. One of my favorites from Rich. If you want to hear more of his swing band before the rock influence of the 60's, check out "Rich-Ual Dance". Another burner in the traditional swing spirit."

Buddy's Tribute to the Count

Rolando Jamilla | Houston, Texas | 08/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the most part, this is and an ensemble work. I used to play this in college and my roommate Wolfie would say it sounded like Jetson's music. He was of course referring to the cartoon when on the odd occasion, George would play drums with his band. The are is a couple of extended drum solos, but, for the most part Buddy plays to drive the band. The horns come out of nowhere to further drive the music beyond the drumming. Great stuff. The stuff swings, that's for sure. I disagree with the other review staying the band should have played looser. When you've got Buddy driving you to the next level, you have to stay tight for cohesive presentation. I admit, this wasn't Basie's style, it was loose and moving. But these arrangements and the songs selected were supposed to be the work of a tight band following the explosive drumming of a master."