Buddy Rich Big Band - The Buddy Rich Collection

Jul 1 2008 By Bev Bevan

(Beat Goes On)

BUDDY Rich was arguably the greatest drummer ever – as a big band, swing drummer he surely had no equal.

But he was a jazz purist who hated rock and pop music and had no time for drummers like myself.

He was a difficult boss, too, and his band lived in fear of his temper tantrums and wild rages. He also specialised in sarcasm and had a cutting, acerbic wit.

When entering hospital one time for an operation, he was asked if he was allergic to anything. Rich’s reply was: “Yeah – country and western music.”

But all is forgiven when you hear Buddy Rich’s virtuosity on these superbly arranged tracks, from the hard-hitting Big Swing Face and Groovin’ Hard to the gentler Alfie and I Can’t Get Started. Buddy Rich died of heart failure on April 2, 1987, after maybe one too many drum solos.