BUDDY RICH - Just in Time: The Final Recording
Gearbox Records GB1556CD
Buddy Rich (Drums), Bob Bowlby (Saxophone), Jay Craig (Saxophone), Chris Bacas (Saxophone),Mike Rubino (Saxophone), Steve Marcus (Saxophone), Dana Watson (Trumpet), Eric Miyashiro (Trumpet), Greg Gisbert (Trumpet), Kevin Richardson (Trumpet), Jim Martin (Trombone), Rick Trager (Trombone), Tom Garling (Trombone), Matt Harris (Piano), Rob Amster (Bass) , Cathy Rich (Vocals)
Recorded 19/20th November 1986 - live at Ronnie Scott’s
Buddy Rich was, in Ronnie Scott’s introduction on this recording, ‘The World’s Greatest Drummer.’ Whether he considered this to be true or whether it was just his introduction patter we shall never know. Many of Buddy’s fans would agree, but many of the Jazz Police considered him to be an extrovert and a bully. There are arguments on both sides, as Rich once said in an interview ‘I have the worst temper in the world. When I lose it, oh Baby’. Buddy also had a line in humour which was an acquired taste, for example, when Buddy was due to have an operation he was asked by a nurse if he was allergic to anything ‘No ma’am’ was the curt reply,’ apart from Country and Western!’ However, we are not here to discuss those points but to look at this disc from the stable of the excellent Gearbox Records situated near to Kings Cross.
A word first, if I may on Gearbox Records, I was fortunate a year or so ago to win a prize through JazzFM that as well as a bunch of Gearbox vinyl records included a trip to the Gearbox premises. Darrel Sheinman and Caspar Sutton-Jones, who are responsible for the mastering of this Buddy Rich recording, were a pleasure to meet and answer dumb questions from their visitor. An added bonus was meeting Binker (Golding) and Moses (Boyd) who were in situ reviewing and mastering their latest record. A visit to Gearbox’s website and online store is recommended.
But back to this recording, after Ronnie Scoot’s laconic introduction we are launched straight into ‘Wind Machine’ written by Sammy Nestico (and was first heard by this reviewer on a Count Basie 1975 LP on the Pablo label (surely time for a box set of Basie’s Pablo recordings?) The excitement of the audience is palpable and we are then treated to a dozen or so charts of both originals and standards, including two Rich stalwarts ‘Love for Sale’ and ‘Porgy and Bess’. A nice addition is the band’s version of ‘The Trolley Song’, the set concludes with Rich’s daughter Cathy singing ‘Twisted’ a mere 15 years after singing at Ronnie’s with Jon Hendricks’s daughters on ‘That’s Enough’. All in all a fabulous recording by a great band lead by a charismatic figure, it is in a way appropriate that his final recording was made at a venue he loved and that love is returned in spades by all the lucky people who were there. We may never see his like again. A final word of praise must go to the superb recording by the Rolling Stones Studio and mastering by Gearbox. Even bigger thanks to Buddy’s Estate and daughter Cathy for making this recording available to a wider audience.
There is a ‘deluxe’ version of the CD and LP that includes 30 minutes of the tune ‘Good News’ featuring Steve Marcus on tenor, as well as Greg Gisbert on trumpet and Bob Bowlby on alto and an extended drum solo from the leader. This reviewer can take or leave extended drum solos and often wonders whether the enthusiastic applause that invariably follows an extended solo is not tinged with relief that it is over? The audience at Ronnie’s seemed to be united in their appreciation though, so fair enough. Buddy finishes in true style with his brand of humour and an ecstatic audience no doubt went home sated but happy.
Reviewed by Clive Fleckner
Gearbox Records GB1556CD
Buddy Rich (Drums), Bob Bowlby (Saxophone), Jay Craig (Saxophone), Chris Bacas (Saxophone),Mike Rubino (Saxophone), Steve Marcus (Saxophone), Dana Watson (Trumpet), Eric Miyashiro (Trumpet), Greg Gisbert (Trumpet), Kevin Richardson (Trumpet), Jim Martin (Trombone), Rick Trager (Trombone), Tom Garling (Trombone), Matt Harris (Piano), Rob Amster (Bass) , Cathy Rich (Vocals)
Recorded 19/20th November 1986 - live at Ronnie Scott’s
Buddy Rich was, in Ronnie Scott’s introduction on this recording, ‘The World’s Greatest Drummer.’ Whether he considered this to be true or whether it was just his introduction patter we shall never know. Many of Buddy’s fans would agree, but many of the Jazz Police considered him to be an extrovert and a bully. There are arguments on both sides, as Rich once said in an interview ‘I have the worst temper in the world. When I lose it, oh Baby’. Buddy also had a line in humour which was an acquired taste, for example, when Buddy was due to have an operation he was asked by a nurse if he was allergic to anything ‘No ma’am’ was the curt reply,’ apart from Country and Western!’ However, we are not here to discuss those points but to look at this disc from the stable of the excellent Gearbox Records situated near to Kings Cross.
A word first, if I may on Gearbox Records, I was fortunate a year or so ago to win a prize through JazzFM that as well as a bunch of Gearbox vinyl records included a trip to the Gearbox premises. Darrel Sheinman and Caspar Sutton-Jones, who are responsible for the mastering of this Buddy Rich recording, were a pleasure to meet and answer dumb questions from their visitor. An added bonus was meeting Binker (Golding) and Moses (Boyd) who were in situ reviewing and mastering their latest record. A visit to Gearbox’s website and online store is recommended.
But back to this recording, after Ronnie Scoot’s laconic introduction we are launched straight into ‘Wind Machine’ written by Sammy Nestico (and was first heard by this reviewer on a Count Basie 1975 LP on the Pablo label (surely time for a box set of Basie’s Pablo recordings?) The excitement of the audience is palpable and we are then treated to a dozen or so charts of both originals and standards, including two Rich stalwarts ‘Love for Sale’ and ‘Porgy and Bess’. A nice addition is the band’s version of ‘The Trolley Song’, the set concludes with Rich’s daughter Cathy singing ‘Twisted’ a mere 15 years after singing at Ronnie’s with Jon Hendricks’s daughters on ‘That’s Enough’. All in all a fabulous recording by a great band lead by a charismatic figure, it is in a way appropriate that his final recording was made at a venue he loved and that love is returned in spades by all the lucky people who were there. We may never see his like again. A final word of praise must go to the superb recording by the Rolling Stones Studio and mastering by Gearbox. Even bigger thanks to Buddy’s Estate and daughter Cathy for making this recording available to a wider audience.
There is a ‘deluxe’ version of the CD and LP that includes 30 minutes of the tune ‘Good News’ featuring Steve Marcus on tenor, as well as Greg Gisbert on trumpet and Bob Bowlby on alto and an extended drum solo from the leader. This reviewer can take or leave extended drum solos and often wonders whether the enthusiastic applause that invariably follows an extended solo is not tinged with relief that it is over? The audience at Ronnie’s seemed to be united in their appreciation though, so fair enough. Buddy finishes in true style with his brand of humour and an ecstatic audience no doubt went home sated but happy.
Reviewed by Clive Fleckner
