Personnel:
Buddy Rich (d, lead), Harry Edison, Conte Candoli, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Bob Enevoldsen (v-tb), Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino (tb), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Zoot Sims, Georgie Auld, Bob Cooper (ts), Buddy Collette (fl, ts, bs), Bob Lawson, Bob Poland (bs), Jimmy Rowles, Gerald Wiggins (p), Bill Pitman (g), John Simmons, Joe Comfort (b), Jack Costanzo (perc), Johnny Mandel, Marty Paich (arr)
Reference: FSRCD 552
Bar code: 8427328605526
This CD is an hommage to jazz legend Buddy Rich, a great, swinging drummer with roots in the Swing Era. Rich played with some of the best big bands, but it was his association with Tommy Dorsey that first thrust him into the consciousness of a whole generation of swing fans. He won many Down Beat awards during his time, going as far back as 1941, and has been ranked by most authorities as the leading drummer in jazz during a span of more than two decades. Drummers of all persuasion have shown their admiration for Rich. Max Roach, dean of modern drummers, after making an LP with Buddy, said that he was a fabulous musician, either in a big band or with a small group. Philly Joe Jones, one of the most respected of all jazz drummers, remarked, Buddy does things that are unbelievable for any drummer Ive seen Buddy do all kinds of solos, any way you can think of, and Ive never seen him do tricks. To top things up, no less an authority on the subject than Gene Krupa said: Buddy Rich is the greatest drummer of all time. It is hard to get better than that!
-This One's For Basie
"Drummer Buddy Rich put together an interesting 11-piece group for this tribute to Count Basie. The only Basie alumnus present is trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison but the other soloists (trombonist Frank Rosolino and Bob Enevoldsen, Bob Cooper on tenor and pianist Jimmy Rowles) easily fit into the setting. Marty Paich contributed the arrangements, there are plenty of drum solos and the music, if not all that memorable, can easily be enjoyed by straightahead jazz fans."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
