Buddy Rich with Boston Pops 1981

This tape is of Buddy Rich performing the West Side Story Medley in 1981 with John Williams and the Boston Pops. This digital recording was created from an original tape of the performance given by Buddy Rich to his student Brian Choper in 1983 (his student from 1981-83). Note that unlike other versions of this performance found on the web (which are from TV broadcasts) this recording includes a non-broadcast sequence at the beginning of Rich playing solo with bass player Wayne Pedzwater ( the bass player for Blood Sweat and Tears who tragically passed away in 2005).

Midway through the performance, Rich shows a skill that no other drummer has ever mastered...... playing the drums with just one hand (in this case, accenting the rhythm with the bass drum.) According to what Rich himself told Bran Choper, he developed this skill after breaking his arm during a tour.

Additionally Brian points out that many people looking at this recording make the mistake of calling what Rich does at near the beginning of this performance a "press roll". Brian sets the record straight. It is not a press roll at all. He's actually playing fast rudiments, primarily 5 and 6 stroke rolls, and paradiddles, a technique that Rich did at the beginning of almost every drum solo and which he taught Brian.

Another intersting note is that the West Side Medley beging playeed was arranged by Tommy Newsom, saxophone player and assistant music director for the Tonight Show Band under Johnny Carson.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Buddy Rich
• Wayne Pedzwater
• Boston Pops 1981
• John Williams
• West Side Story Medley
• Brian Choper
• Tommy Newsom

[adm7007]

The start with Rich and that wicked bass player is awesome.

Never heard Rich play like that before.Brilliant!

The drum solo is awesome,but too bad the video fucks up near the end.Fuck!

[Hootowl54]

The look of admiration on John William's face is priceless!

[ishredu]

there used to be a better version of this on here this audio is really ..the worst it completely ruins it

[buddyrichforever]

shame about he sound. all over he joint.

[cadaverr]

FANTASTIC upload. Thanks!!!!!!

[rhythmstick5]

@ChoperBrian this clip starts 9 minutes into the whole performance of the West Side Story Suite, which was preceded by a rendition of "Strike Up the Band". I have a personal VHS recording of the complete show.

[pacificcrestwindsym]

My folks actually recorded this from an old PBS "Best of pops" show in the early 80's on their then "mono" VCR. I nearly destroyed the tape playing it so many times. Great video quality here for the most part but really too bad about the audio speed issues plagued throughout. I know the Master tape is sitting in the PBS archives out there somewhere waiting for true Digital preservation. Let's hope someone reads this who knows it's whereabouts. Thanks for posting!

[ChoperBrian]

So, I took it and threw it on the digital converter, and gave copies to a few people. It ended up on the web.

Another part of the story is that Buddy was used to leading his own band, and although John Williams was conducting, toward the end of the tune, Buddy started conducting him, as he took the song out.

[ChoperBrian]

This is the Brian mentioned. I did not post this, but I was his student. From what I know, this was the only song he performed with them. I at least cannot find a history of others. It is also the only thing I can find about Wayne.

I had been given this tape by Buddy in the early 80's, then forgot about it until about a month ago, when I came across it in a drawer, in it's box. It is an original tape, and there is damage from where it had not been properly rewound....by me, years ago.

[timothyissohot]

Was this the only song that he performed with the Boston Pops on?