Swingin New Big Band [Extra tracks]

Buddy Rich | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005H1Q
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,726 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Buddy's powerhouse first album for Pacific Jazz, on CD for the first time with nine, count 'em, nine unreleased tracks! Includes that famed West Side Story medley, plus Critic's Choice; Up Tight (Everything's Alright); Sister Sadie; Readymix , and more, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson and Bill Holman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Band....New Energy...Same Ole' Amazing Buddy!, September 29, 2000

By 

C. Law "Charlie Law" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swingin New Big Band (Audio CD)

DON'T MISS THIS! In 1966, Buddy Rich left his gig as the highest-paid sideman in history with Harry James' band to start another big band of his own in Vegas. When Buddy finally dumped his backer (who wanted this to be a big ROCK band) because the charts were bad, quality arrangers like Oliver Nelson and Bill Reddie (house arranger at the Dunes Hotel) showed up and history was made! The result is one of the most exciting bands you'll EVER HEAR!

This band really PLAYED! I heard it in a little room in Oldtown Chicago called "The Scotch Mist," and they nearly blew the customers' drinks right off the tables! The sound was different, too. The charts were great, but a lot of the uniqueness (I think) came from the "barrel-house" lead trombone of Jim Trimble "pushing" the Vegas trumpet section to new heights. You can really hear the "middle" of the band in their recordings.

The personnel were kind of anonymous in '66 (unless you were a musician), but many are very well known now (such as Bobby Shew, Carson Smith and Gene Quill). Don't be fooled ! In the 60's, you could walk into ANY hotel on "The Strip" and get blown away by the HOUSE BAND! These guys are simply GREAT! (Several of them are still hanging around Las Vegas, some in pretty surprising jobs...).

Thanks to Bob Belden and Dean Pratt (a trumpet-player and Rich alumnus), there are (9) extra tracks not on the original LP, but included on this CD (the five Oliver Nelson charts would make it worth the price of the album alone). So a fantastic album was just made EVEN BETTER by the reissue producers ! Get this, crank up the stereo and just TRY not to grin when the band rips through Bill Reddie's "West Side Story Medley" or Phil Wilson's "Basically Blues." ( I'll bet you WILL....).

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Wild Album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, April 22, 2004

By 

Christopher Covais (ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swingin New Big Band (Audio CD)

This album was the first I ever herd Buddy Rich play. I was already a drummer 13 years and hadn't herd any of Buddy's playing on record. This is his most famous cd of his 1960's big band albums he did on Pacific Jazz, and it's my favorite. Highlights of this album are of course, West Side Story, and Apples, but Hoe Down, Basically Blues, What Did I Say, and Uptight are also of my musical enjoyments. I don't think there was a drummer who wasn't influenced by Buddy Rich, and this cd is why! Any drummer or jazz fan will like this album.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the "tightest" bands ever assembled!, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Swingin New Big Band (Audio CD)

This CD is a must for any fan of jazz, swing and Buddy Rich. The band and the arrangements are fantastic! It's one of the most dynamic groups ever assembled with Buddy. All the sidemen are pros. Basically Blues, Sister Sadie, and this rendition of West Side Story are the some of best pieces Buddy ever recorded - his timing, technique, fills and solos are out of this world. It's an amazing album.