Harry James Buddy Rich

[pooperscoopr69]

As much as I respect and adore Buddy's drumming art...he could never fill the drum chair in the Ellington orchestra superior to Woodyard or Greer.

[cadillacdude1975]

ahh the famed Rogers drum set. i still think Buddy sounded better on the swinging Slingerland Radio Kings.

[jerec576]

I want glasses like what Paul Desmond and those guys wore back then

[DYNODRUM]

Harry James was very Good but" Buddy Rich led this band" *

[acedrumminman]

@DYNODRUM Harry was a genius, he new every single part of every tune, second alto, third bone, they could never trick him up, Buddy loved him, and Harry was absolutely the leader, BR was just doing his job the right way.

[johnnyzing]

@DYNODRUM A friend of mine played with Harry James and told me he let Buddy do whatever he wanted including come on the stage 'after' himself. James was a smart leader. I met him in 1975 at the Las Vegas Union Hall when it was strong and on Tropicana Avenue. Those were the fun Vegas days.  I used to play percussion on all the Production Shows. John-Hans Melcher

[DYNODRUM]

@johnnyzing Great ,Thankyou ,good info;Are you still doin any Percussion, This was a time I, think when Buddy was preparing for His take -off, into His own Thing ,as you say.

[Kickerinthehead]

@DYNODRUM Buddy Rich might have been the engine but Harry James was the steering wheel.

[mbazell]

Such quality, such class, such talent!

[glennrunnerroad]

buddy was a great drumer but not as good as bun e carlos from cheap trick

[Fnarge]

Note how Buddy accents and drives every nuance of 'Take The A Train' by memory. No peeking at charts. Also, observe the flat slung crash and ride cymbals. Harder to control but a better tone. He kept that set up even when most drummers sloped their cymbals at 45 degree angles. By the way he only shouted at bandsmen when they weren't working as hard as he did, risking heart failure and bankruptcy to keep it all afloat, it seems.

[cadillacdude1975]

just an reaffirmation that he was and will always be the best. period. there isn't a drummer out there today who could even carry Buddy's sweat towel.

[beagleman123456789]

@Fnarge He said he can't read drum music.

[6c97koao]

Here's a good Buddy Rich story. He suffered a heart attack and the medics rushed him to hospital. In the truck, one of them looked at Buddy who was grey. "Allergic to anything,?" said the medic. "Yeah" rasped Rich. "Country music."

[raesims]

lol sounds like something my dad would have said.

[zackhb708]

One of Buddy's favorite jobs, as a side man!!!

[rrdrums110]

Oh yes I do indeed know that is Mr Buddy Rich. My favorite. No offense. You don't care what I call Mr. James though?

[vinylman4533]

Much and all as I love rock and contemporary music, there was all this fabulous big band, jazz and blues music in the 30's to 50's and it is a complete fallacy that there was nothing worthwhile in music prior to rock and roll, owing to the the ephemeral nature of popular music chasing the latest fad, much of this great music is unknown to the great majority of music fans under 40.

[dsanw]

Thank-you for posting this excellent "A Train". It is one of my favourite Big Band tunes too. It would deserve more than 5 *, if I could do so.

Thank-you for sending Simon and have a nice start in the new week, Uli

[raesims]

I agree. My dad is the late Ray Sims far left trombone and when I talk about Les Brown, Harry James etc. most people are like "what, who?" I grew up listing to this music at home. I love it. Needless to say my dad in turn wasn't to fond of my Metallica. lol.

[bobareebop]

raesims, I also grew up in a musical family with a dad who was a professional musician. We grew up with this music, and when my brother and I were in middle school we were listening to big band music all the time. We both became pretty good instrumentalists without taking private lessons. I believe this was due to all of that listening and learning what a properly played instrument was supposed to sound like.

[raesims]

That is true and only true music comes from the heart. For a long time my dad couldnt even read music. When he and his brother Zoot Sims were young they just played by ear the written music came later I think that is what made them who they were. Thats when you hear someone playing and its as distinct as the sound of their voice.

[rrdrums110]

Man James and that drummer sound gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Djavidus]

@rrdrums110:

"that drummer"? You're talking about Buddy Rich there, my good sir.

[deltron3]

great.......now my blolbmesc could suffocates

[deltron3]

i'll get the dtails

[neckus22]

Kings amongst men!

[joeasmythe]

Who knew back then how lucky we were to have this music, and such a great country. It's a shame what has happened to our music and our country.

[vinylman4533]

Much and all as I love rock and contemporary music, there was all this fabulous big band, jazz and blues music in the 30's to 50's and it was a complete fallacy that there was noth owing to the the ephemeral nature of popular music chasing the latest fad, much of this great music is unknown to the great majority of music fans under 40.

[TrumpetRules91]

Wow...Harry James is my idol. Great sound, I love the shmoltzy (sp) vibrato, everything. I hope to one day sound 1/2 as good as him. And I agree with Sherom - I mean, I'm only 17 years old, but the music today is pretty much all crap. I hope that jazz (preferably the big band sound) makes a comeback.

[6252846]

well said

[c4rv3r]

What a great thought! I'd love the bigband era comeback... I'm tired of the today's hiphop, pop and punk sh1t...

[difarkas]

Agree

[NAVYMU1RET]

You can be...just practice. It is good you are listening to GOOD music. While at the Armed Forces School of Music, I had a young trumpet player come up to me and ask what he should do about his sound...I asked what do you listen to? He said, "The Dead Milk Men". I asked if they have trumpet players in their group, he said no, they are a "THRASH" group. I said there is your answer. To play trumpet, you must listen to trumpet players and Harry James is one of the best.

[macvoutie]

Great band of seasoned pros with Buddy compin' and swingin'. Great solos too.

[sricenw]

harry james orch under the direction of fred radke - really captures a lot of this spirit - you should hear randy carter on drums - seriously! - they're on tour now! - a ghost band still dreaming the dream -

[Fnarge]

Great to see Buddy so relaxed and swinging with a disciplined and polished outfit. James' Big Band was at its jazziest in the early Sixties. from the evidence of movie clips and albums. Which I'd seen them live. Buddy's own bands tended to be rather more frantic. But here be great trumpeting and ensembles driven by the mighty BR at his coolest.

[sherom]

Excuse me Brian740!

[sherom]

Thanks for posting. These young people of today don't know what their missing, bring back the big band sounds. Thanks to You Tube for providing a site to capture once again this kind of unique footage, and thanks to people like Brian70 who also care.

[richcapo]

Great video -- thanks for posting it!