Wham

Buddy Rich | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Label M.
• ASIN: B000056OF0
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,043 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Time Out

2. Willowcrest

3. Ya Gotta Try

4. Tales Of Rhoda Rat

5. Time Check

6. Cape Verdean Blues

7. Bugle Call Rag

8. So What?

9. A Little Train

10. Channel One Suite

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Live Recording By the World's Greatest Drummer!, May 21, 2001

By 

MARK D. JOHNSON (Laguna Niguel, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wham (Audio CD)

Being a drummer and having listened to Buddy Rich and his band play live gigs from the late '60s until the time of death, I can honestly say that this album captures the power, dynamics, energy, and precision of this amazing drummer and his "Killer Force" band maybe better than any I have (and I own over 40 Rich LPs/CDs). Although the tracks can be found on other Buddy Rich albums, you won't find better life performances, and that's what makes this album truly remarkable. Buddy and his band always played faster and with more energy in front of a live audience and that's what you're paying for. Be amazed at the pure snare drum solo on "Bugle Call Rag" - a real rarity. The Miles Davis classic, "So What?" is also a treasure because of the extreme tempo and drum solo that underlies the bass riff. Here you'll enjoy cymbal and tom-tom work that you've never heard on any other Rich album. A huge treat - and the only real reason you need to buy this CD - is the finale featuring the classic "Channel One Suite." It's over 26 minutes long (!) and begins with a superb brush solo that opens the number. Steve Marcus interrupts the frenzy long enough to lay down an amazing tenor solo before the band joins in for a furious ending.

Alan Gauvin - a former band member - claims to have access to ninety hours of tape covering the band over a two-and-a-half year period. If that's true and the quality and energy are as good as this first go-round, we've got years musical blessings to come!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the way I remember Buddy live!!!, May 20, 2001

By 

andrew i. chaplowitz (springfield, nj United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wham (Audio CD)

I have just experienced the pinnacle of listening pleasure. Buddy and the band haven't been captured this way since "Mercy Mercy."

I had the thrill of seeing BR live about 20 times between 1973 and 1985, and this CD captures the anticipation and energy of those live concerts.

Debates will ensue over the best track but, for me, I was blown away by Don Menza's "Time Check"--composed over a quarter of a century ago, yet will sound contemporary 500 years from now. The "kicker" here is that, compared to the studio version on "The Roar of 74" as well as the live version on the video "Rich At The Top", the cut is "disguised" by putting a piano solo in the intro (played by one of Buddy's best alumnus, Barry Keiner)as well as a slower tempo and the band comes roaring in like you would not believe! The more relaxed tempo sets up thunderous machine-gun like triplets at the end which had me... near lose control of my car. If you listen closely enough during the applause at the end, you hear some young dude say, "this guy is serious". No s---!!

The ensemble playing as well as the soloists are in the "zone"--great trumpet solos on "Willowcrest" and "Channel One".

An absolute wild off the hook drum solo over bass on "So What"---the man was a genius, using spacing, phrasing, that splash cymbal is wild!

The audio fidelity is sound-board quality, from Buddy's bass drum to the resonance of his Zildian cymbals.

I could go on forever, but in closing, let me say: I would have gladly paid 50 bucks.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAM! A Long Time Coming, February 27, 2001

By 

Walter Hern "drumnwalt" (Fremont, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wham (Audio CD)

Thank goodness that Alan Gauvin taped over 90 hours of Buddy's band playing live! This album is a total gas! This is the real thing -- Buddy's band playing it as they always did -- very live and in your face (or ears)! The feeling of this performance is wonderful and puts the listener right in the midst of the band.

The band is dead on and exhibits some very fine performances by the musicians! Of course, Buddy's playing -- what can you say? There are no adjectives that can describe it. His playing must be experienced. Anyway, he is at his best!

The album kicks off with a very fast "Time Out". Drummers, catch Buddy's bass drum work in this and his alternating patterns between his left hand and bass drum. "Tales Of Rhoda Rat" is a sophisticated and elegant suite that demonstrates the melodic quality this band was capable of. "Cape Verdean Blues" really cooks and Barry Keiner does a wonderful job on piano. Buddy kicks off "Bugle Call Rag" with a very energetic parade solo and then simply swings through this tune at a breath taking pace. "So What" follows and you wonder -- when will they catch their breath? Buddy's coda on this tune with the bassist is very creative, modern and one that all drummers will enjoy. The clincher is "Channel One Suite". This one will knock your socks off. From the opening solo on brushes into the very fast tempo of this piece through Steve Marcus' a capella sax solo to Buddy's finale. It is totally entertaining and a performance worthy of having in your permanent collection.

The recording quality is superb, the separation excellent and you will never hear Buddy's drums sound as well as they do hear on a studio recording.

Check it out and give your ears a real treat!