At a shade just over three and a half hours, there is a lot of listening to be done on this three CD Acrobat release. Focusing upon the mid-forties through to 1955, the first disc works its way chronologically through twenty one of the Buddy Rich Orchestra’s Mercury recordings with several V-Discs thrown in for good measure. From January 1946 to October 1948 it’s all about Rich and his big band. Frequently in and out of the studio during this period, Rich somehow found time to fit in other work including radio broadcasts and participating in Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts. The tracks range from the not so quiet Quiet Riot (a second studio cut, recorded three months later, invites comparison) to Rich’s reworking of Woody Herman’s Four Brothers, titled Four Rich Brothers. Rich the vocalist is present on some tracks, alongside singers Linda Larkin and Dorothy Reid.
Discs two and three offer a markedly different take
on Buddy Rich, drummer, as opposed to Buddy Rich, big band drummer. Thirty eight
tracks, covering the late forties through to a September 1955 Norgan session,
remind the listener of the quality and quantity of Rich’s other, non-big band,
output. As a resume, it doesn’t get much better than this: Charlie Parker
Quartet (1950), Count Basie Octet (’50), Bud Powell Trio (’50), Count Basie
Sextet (’52), Teddy Wilson Trio (’52), Lionel Hampton Quartet (’53), Buddy Rich
All Stars (’54), Buddy Rich Quintet (’55). Buddy Rich the powerhouse technician
is the drummer known to jazz fans around the world, this Acrobat package makes
it abundantly clear that Buddy Rich with brushes in hand was a master of his
craft, whether playing a ballad or at tempo. Mr Drums is available
from Acrobat (ACTRCD9120). Recommended.
Russell
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