Customer Reviews

Buddy Rich - At the Top DVD

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having seen the original video in 1973, I can say I was very excited to see this again. Especially watching and listening to Pat Labarbera's cooking solo on Don Menza's "Time Check".

Although one of the reviewers stated that the video showed more of the band than Buddy, a drummer would've heard everything Buddy played during the concert and not worried if it didn't show more of him on tape. I'm very sure that this tape was not edited from its original broadcast in 1973, as these images have been indelibly marked in my mind since then.

It's funny to see the hair styles of the band members compared to the ones in the 1986 PBS video taped here in San Francisco. Ahh, the more things change, the more they....well, you know. But the music, as always was first class.

Don't miss the solos of Greg Hopkins on flugelhorn. And especially Labarbera on tenor and Don Englert on flute in "Basically Blues". Brian Grivna gives a great alto performance on "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?". And Ray Ricker gives a credible solo shot in "Love For Sale". Labarbera cooks again on "Uncle Albert" Sorry, I'm a reedman, and am partial to all the sax section solos.

Closing out the set with West Side Story Medley was in true Buddy Rich fashion, showing off his monstrous skills on the drums. Much as he did on the other much requested "Channel 1 Suite". I remember many a jazz drummer trying to emulate that single stroke roll, of which I knew of only one who could do it. That is one of the most amazing feats of drumming I've ever witnessed (I also play drums, too).

If any of you remember seeing this video on PBS back in 1973, you won't be surprised at your memorizing each and every solo verbatim, from back then, like I did. A must for all Buddy Rich fans.

Simply put, this video gets you inside one of the most powerful big bands in history in a live performance in a relatively small room, which is the best place to see jazz. I saw this when I was about 7 years old and it remained a huge force on my playing throughout the next 30 years. The camera angles are not perfect, no, but to complain about camera angles at the expense of an absolutely unbeliveable performance by Buddy and his screaming band is missing the point. Great charts, great playing, a classic Buddy solo on West Side Story. The drive, determination and exceptance of nothing less than perfection that is signature Buddy is in full display. The snare drum comping work alone is a wonder. This is a piece of history that will be viewed over and over again. And don't get me started on Buddy's left hand... it's nuclear powered to be sure. I just can't find where he hides the reactor.

This video has the perfect title.(RICH AT THE TOP) Buddy Rich is without question the greatest drum technician the world has ever known ! I have seen this video hundreds of times, and every time I'm more amazed what a geniuses this man is. The West Side story solo is totally amazing. What singles, what style, what a left hand. If there is anyone out there that thinks that he could actually play(after watching this) should check himself into a psychiatric hospital. As for that reviewer who thinks that Philly Joe Jones and many other drummers could make the drums seeing better than Buddy Rich ? All I have to say is,You obviously don't play the drums and you never Understood the genius of Buddy Rich ! Guy.

It's always a joy watching and listening to Buddy play, but most of the video clips of him are on various composite videos, such as "Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles" (ASIN B00005RDSJ) and its companion Volume II (ASIN B00006EDPF). In those, and similar videos Buddy's pyrotechnic drumming is showcased, but his overall playing is lost in the dazzle.

This video, however, shows his genius with subtle shades, amazing rhythm and his mastery of bass beats (he does amazing things with a single pedal that is not apparent unless you listen carefully).

Complaints about the audio quality are valid. This DVD could have been much better. And, to be sure, I would have loved more shots of him playing so I could match his moves to the sounds he was producing. However, it is the way the entire band melds together and how Buddy supports the group instead of forcing the attention on his drumming alone that makes this video so valuable. I sat back and enjoyed the music for what it was - superbly played music by a superb cast of musicians that happened to include one of the best drummers ever. Taken in that context this is a wonderful video, which is made all the more wonderful by the West Side Story segment.

If you are a Buddy Rich fan you will love this DVD despite the minor complaints I have both echoed and cited. You will also find a lot of great material on the official Buddy Rich website that is operated by his daughter (paste the ASIN number, B0000A36LU, into the search box on this page, select All Products and click on the Go button).

I just have to say it, quite simply and honestly.
There will never be another Buddy Rich!

I am a young guy that loves drumming.
I love neil peart from the group rush.
He is an amazing drummer, and I think is the top drummer today.
His idol and his favorite drummer in the world, was buddy rich.
He said it himself: Buddy Rich is awesome, simply amazing, and his playing style is just impossible to copy or play.
There will just never be anyone like him again.

You can argue all you want, and say what you want, because the truth is here. Buddy Rich was the greatest, and was in a league of his own.
His left hand was moving so fast, and it was doing something no other drummer could or ever try to do. I have never seen anything like that before! His left hand, had a complete mind of it's own!

His drum solo's were so fast, precise and impossible to do.
His one hand drum rolls are impossible and incredible.
No one will ever be able to play, or master the drums the way that buddy did. He was simply the greatest! No doubt about that!
He was remarkable, yet undeniably extremely talented.
He made this tape at age 55, when most drummers are already retred with playing. He was this way, from the age of 5 through his death at 87.

I like louie bellson too. He was the inventor of the double bass drum set up. Even though he started playing double bass drums, it was buddy rich playing with them with a big band set up, way back in the 1920's on one of has video performances. He did all the things drummers today are trying to do and invent. Playing double bass setups, and playing hanging on stage upside down. You name it, and he did it all already.

Best yet, he did it all very well. He did everything with style and great performance. Enough said about that! Take it from me and the many other professional drummers out there playing and watching groups and performers, Buddy Rich was, just the greatest drummer ever alive.

A must have for anyone interested at seeing Buddy at his best. A great dvd for any drummer/percussionist to learn from and to enjoy great music from a great band with an incredible musician at the helm. Highly recomended.

This vintage performance by Buddy Rich and his band in Rochester puts the master's skills on display. At 55, he showed no signs of slowing down and his band, featuring the equal brilliance of the legendary Pat LaBarbara on tenor sax, sounds crisp and solid while performing in rather tight surroundings, typical of a club setting. The video quality, however, isn't the best and the sound could be better, but remember this was taped in 1972 before the advent of high-tech recording equipment. The narration at the beginning didn't really add a lot to the DVD, but I did enjoy Buddy fooling around on the piano and the trumpet early in the tape. The added features and interview with Buddy being Buddy were also fun to see. All in all, this is a must for any Buddy fans to own. Yes, it has its shortcomings, but it does show Buddy at his peak.

THAT IS A QUOTE FROM GENE KRUPA HIMSELF! i GET TIRED OF PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON COMPARING BUDDY WITH GENE OR WORSE RINGO{COME ON MAN WHERE ARE YOUR EARS? IT'S POINTLESS AND IGNORANT TO COMPARE BUDDY WITH RINGO IN ANY DIMENSION, ONE IS A ROCK DRUMMER THE OTHER IS A BIG BAND DRUMMER! FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE LIKE THE POSTER WHO DID THE ORIGINAL COMPARISON - LET'S JUST SAY THEY ARE WORLDS APART! THE VERY IDEA TO SUGGEST BUDDY IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM SHOULD TAKE A BACK SEAT TO EITHER JOE JONES KRUPA AND OF ALL THE DRUMMERS RINGO STAR IS SICK!i JUST DON'T GET A PERSON WHO MAKES IDIOTIC STATEMENTS LIKE THAT.. THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO i THINK THAT EVERY DRUMMER SHOULD OWN IT THE AUDIO COULD BE BETTER BUT IT'S NOT BAD FOR 1973! GROW UP PEOPLE, WHAT? DO YOU REALLY NEED EVERYTHING TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS MIXED BY THE GRP GROUP? USE YOUR BRAINS, IT WAS RECORDED IN 1973..GIMME A BREAK WITH THE "i NEED EVERYTHING PERFECT" JIVE

I think this is one of Buddy's finest concerts but the audio
quality on the DVD is crap.
I hope the VHS version is better.

If you are a Buddy Rich fan you may be disappointed in that the camera angles do not show Buddy enough, mostly his great band. Buddy shows how he is the fastest drummer EVER but he does not come close to Gene Krupa, Philly Joe Jones or many other drummers as far as making the drums 'sing'. He's all technical... not musical. If you like Buddy Rich listen to Ringo Star play any Beatles song. He plays exactly what the song calls for, nothing more. Rich would destory the music. Rich could drum circles around Ringo on the set BUT Ringo plays music like Gene Krupa who was a genius in making the drums 'sing'. The video shows how fast Buddy is, really nobody comes close today.