Buddy Rich Meets Louis Bellson

Groovin' Hard - Composition/Arrangement Don Menza. For some great live Buddy Rich, check out:
http://www.mosaicrecords.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1009



http://www.jazzlegends.com presents a rare drum duo, Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson. Please visit the site to purchase a special Louis Bellson Tribute DVD.

Louie Bellson, master drummer, composer, arranger, educator and the last of the certifiable swing era percussion stars, passed away on Februrary 14 at the age of 84.

As a player and as a human being, there will never, ever be another like him. Whether at a clinic, a master class, recording session, or after a performance, he took the time to answer every question, sign every autograph, and fulfill every request. He spoke ill of no one.

His playing was just like he was. Beyond category, eras or labels. Stylistically, his was an all-purpose way of playing that fit with everything. Though grounded in swing, and indeed, his first major job was with Benny Goodman, this was an artist who played with everyone from Louis Armstrong and Harry James to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Technically, most percussion experts agree that he was the only one who could come close to equalling Buddy Richs speed and dexterity. And via his ground-breaking use of two bass drums, he took Buddys technique a step beyond.

Bruce Klauber

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• drums
• percussion
• louis
• bellson
• buddy
• rich
• don
• menza
• groovin'
• hard

[MinotaJJ]

Man, that was some smooth and efortless technique displayed by Louie...

[JazzVideoGuy]

@MinotaJJ Good eye.

[tommymorey]

What seems un clear to many who compare is that these are different wrings of the same ladder. And great love exists between them. Buddy is 7 years Louie' senior. Louie got his start when he won the first Buddy Rich drum contest, barely beating another greatly underrated drummer, Jonny Pool... Who later married Anita O'Day. Both of these cats strangle influenced and close friends with their mentor, Gene Krupa.. In turn influenced by Big Sid Catlin, Papa Joe Jones, Baby Dodson, etc. Buddy is Lou

[JazzVideoGuy]

@tommymorey You really know your percussion history.

[TheDustyspears]

Buddy Rich was not an ego maniac. I hear so many people who knew and played for him say that yes he got angry, but he rarely really fired anyone. He was all talk. And yes, he did say "Yeah, you hate me. But I can play those god damn drums." But... He was right. Buddy Rich was friendly, but arrogant. And he had the right to be. No drummer in the world comes close to Buddy Rich, even after death.

[JazzVideoGuy]

@TheDustyspears It would be a good idea to separate the man from the myth and just focus on his music.

[metallicarocks911]

please do not mention travis barker on a buddy rich video, reason being is because he was in his daddy's nutsack when buddy rich was making loads of money.

[rgilchrist4]

Saw them both live, they were both amazing. What struck me about Louis is that he played long extended solos and the longer he played the looser and faster he seemed to get. Which many of us strive for as the tendency is to get fatigued and more and more tense. He was also very nice and took time to speak with sudents like me. It was about 1979. No I have never seen Travis Barker, don't want to.

[drumbumNaTub]

Wow! Louie was great!! Buddy was the one and only Buddy. :) They looked like they had a great time doing it!

[BassDude789]

4:02 its either Severus Snape or Tiny Tim on trombone lol, cant tell.

[epasurr]

@tommymorey Right on! And I could be wrong, but I think the competition he won as a youngster was under the name of Gene Krupa

[TwistedSpeech]

Is that Funk Brothers bassist James Jamerson playing in the back?

[XxStrongDrums1996xX]

@TheDustyspears Buddy Rich's abilities to not constitute a right for him to be arrogant. I don't care HOW good you are, acting the way that he did is unacceptable. He was a great drummer, but I have little respect for his attitude. I should also note that people who say that no one has surpassed Buddy need to get out of the past. People have FAR surpassed Buddy in this day and age, but what is to be expected? Every new age brings new ideas that build on the last.

[Boldstrummer]

Louis Bellson was not on an ego trip. A real nice guy.

[YoO161]

his name is louie

[readyeddy101]

What a treat. Two of the best drummers all time. I am a big BR fan and I got to see both of them perform at the same show at a jazz festival in Rhode Island, USA. Probably aorund 1979/80. First time I saw each of them play live. An other great video on YT is of BR and Ed Shaunessy.....cool cool stuff

[rowdydrummer1]

wow! that was insane! They are both very talented. R.I.P. to u both :)

[himl994]

@BobNThat

Double bass was first used by jazz drummers, just in case you didn't know...

And if they have it there, I'm guessing it's not for looks.