WHAM!
THE BUDDY RICH BIG BAND "LIVE"
Hyena- New Label!!!! In soon (September 2003)
Exhausting, exhilarating, stunning, amazing, astonishing: just a few of the adjectives that I consider give an understated impression of the impact of this wonderful surprise addition to the library of Buddy Rich recordings available to the collector.
Your memories of a Rich concert tend to concentrate on the medium to uptempo flag-wavers, seeing Buddy's mercurial technique as he kicks his band into the stratosphere. O.K. we enjoyed the ballads but the others stick in the mind. This particular collection concentrates on the burners, it is the selection you might make as you pick among his albums perhaps!
What you did not have were these Alan Gauvin tapes. 90 hours, recorded with Buddy's blessing and released with his estate's permission. Recorded in 1977 and 1978 in New York and Michigan, this band was HOT. More or less the same band for all tracks, including Bob Mintzer, Barry Kleiner and Alan Gauvin on alto. None of the nervous tension that I sensed in later bands, this band is tight, swinging with a joyful ease. I do hope that more can be released. The quality of the recordings is very good indeed, well balanced outstanding presence. Buddy Rich is superb form. Drummers will drool over this selection for all time. There will never ever be anyone who will be able to replicate his gift.
The tracks: Time Out, Willowcrest, Ya Gotta Try, Rhoda Rat, Time Check, Cape Verdean Blues, Bugle Call Rag, So What, Channel One Suite.