Buddy Rich - Ronnie Scotts 1969 - 'Channel One Suite' and 'Rotten Kid'.

[@stephencrittenden9011]

Wow, Buddy and his band just burning it down! Then mellowing out. Then burning it down again! Such a great taste of a by-gone era. I'm here because I was a drummer in the 70's and early 80's, who will never, ever forget the incomparable artistry of Buddy Rich!

[@midlandsroylenfield]

you are STILL the greatest Buddy! R.I.P thanks for all the great music!!

[@MrJazzologist1]

I know there are some great drummers out there, many with pleasing and original styles - but Buddy was the world's finest and most innovatIve drummer of all and any time to come.

[@domenicv7962]

Nah...you or anyone cannot say who the best was or is, if there is even such a thing as a best drummer.. What you see and hear may not be what I see and hear. In my opinion, Buddy was one dimensional , masterful in that dimension, but still not willing to say he was the best over all tasteful and multi dimensional drummer there ever was. No way, "Mr Jazzcosmetologist"". In my life, many have told me I played like Buddy.....I took it as an insult.. Sorry!

[@GFVAhi-fi]

Sorry your life is such a joke. But he was definitely the best!

[@gaspo2180]

Just a great version of each song here. The whole band to a man is playing above and beyond their "normal". This has to be near the top of Buddy's favorite band of ALL TIME right here. You can tell they're playing with real JOY and feeling for each other.

[@Lewy3958]

This concert was the 4th time i had seen him , i knew then my life would never be the same

[@arame29]

I've stayed up most of the night, listening to various versions of this Bill Reddie classic. Cadenzas by Pat Labarbera, Don Menza, Steve Marcus. All valid, all great. That's the beauty of jazz--expressing one's self thru the music. I will never rate them side by side---they're all fantastic. The only thing--withut the guitar,there's a void.. Fantastic composition-all the different moods. Forty-five years later, it is still valid and has stood the test of time. That's the mark of great music.

[@gabrielnavarro3833]

Zzzzzz......

[@arame29]

@@gabrielnavarro3833 I think you put that very eell

[@boricua9071]

is it me or did buddy rich get better as he got older even in his 50's and 60's

[@tajames68]

Amazing, isn't it?

[@erikrupp692]

He did. I saw him in 1983 and he was simply amazing. My jaw hit the ground. I was wearing a KISS t-shirt and he looked at me as he was going into an extended drum solo, and he had a smug look on his face like he was saying, "That ain't good music, kid - THIS is good music!" Then he proceeded to play one of his most blistering solos just blowing me away (I was a drummer, so I really appreciated what he was doing). Yeah, that was something else. And I've seen other video footage from after that, and he was still playing great. The thing is, he was a great bandleader - he got the most out of his band.

[@iainadam1005]

Fabulous absolutely Fabulous, you'll never see another drummer like Buddy Rich and all that he achieved, never, don't get wroung there are of course some great drummers doing their bit but let's face non can compare as to what Buddy did in his lifetime.

[@jazzatnoonmke659]

Of course. If you live you get better. If you're a serious musician.

[@boricua9071]

@@jazzatnoonmke659 to be fair drums are a very physically taxing, so for buddy to still be so fast till he died in essence is even more impressive.

[@rickiscopes]

Experiencing Buddy Rich and his Big Band live in Nottingham November 1969 was what made me take up drumming. He complained of toothache but played fantastically. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@cesbaron5036]

I was there that night and got to meet him the greatest drummer ever .I've seen many great drummers live from krupa up to the present day but buddy was the greatest saw him and met him a few times

[@davidbardwatkins]

I remember when I first heard this years ago, still progressive and hard to top!

[@VallinSFAS]

Aaaand speaking of "progressive", the young Carl Palmer and Keith Emerson clearly tuned in for this, because it's the foundation of "Tank" and "Tarkus". The harmonic pattern of "Rotten Kid" is the bass part of ELP's double time intro to "Little Rock Getaway" from 'Welcome Back My Friends..." Finally, Ronnie Scott's club was Jimi Hendrix's last appearance on this Earth (after Isle of Wight) (for those of you Prog Geeks who know the whole Isle of Wight-Hendrix-ELP connection).

[@BerlinTravelApp]

A real treat, thanks for posting! There aren't that many '60s videos out there of Channel One Suite live.

[@mikelevand8272]

Pat Labarbera...............unbelievable beautiful and soothing solo................Bravissimo!!!

[@gmac6503]

My monitor was getting red hot while Buddy went off but fortunately he slowed it down and I can watch/listen to the whole thing now hahaha. 🔥

[@spencerholman8653]

seen all the great drummers old and new. none come even close to buddy.

[@bedlam6666]

GREAT post. I've seen Buddy do hundreds of solos but that one has even more of an edge to it. And Rotten Kid is a rarely heard gem, one of my favorites. Thanks.

[@erikrupp692]

The run of sax players Buddy had was ridiculously great. Don Menza, Pat LaBarbera, and then Steve Marcus. Amazing.

[@smctrout4423]

Jay Corre wasn't half bad.

[@jspatz4574]

Don't forget Ernie Watts

[@smctrout4423]

Didn't Bob Mintzer also play in Buddy's band?

[@jspatz4574]

@@smctrout4423 he did, 75-77

[@erikrupp692]

@@smctrout4423 - Indeed he did. And he wrote a number of charts for Buddy, too. Good stuff. The talent that went through that band was staggering.

[@LordGreystoke]

everyone in these comments raves about Buddy. But these sax players are phenomenal!

[@alancobain2151]

I swear Bernard was from another planet.

[@EdWatts]

So does everyone who ever worked with him.

[@nealsausen4651]

He was! I think he was from the pladies

[@tooter1able]

Every arranger/composer who is worth come salt should aspire to write something as powerful and emotive as "Channel 1 suite".

[@rickmorales2113]

Yes!!But that's quite a tall order indeed.

[@hawkrider88]

Thanks for posting, Buddy was really in great form this night!

[@EdWatts]

Buddy was at his best only on days ending in "y"!

[@eddierivera1860]

Love his concentration. AMAZING!!!!!

[@tornmask7]

This incredible music jazz bebop swing video gave me goosebumps down my spine wow simply amazing!

[@Johnnycdrums]

It's all we got of Rotten Kid live, and lucky to have it. Unless someone shows up with the tapes from the summer replacement TV show "Away We Go". The 1967 album "The New One" is in my opinion, the best big band in the universe.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Start at about min.14 for Rotten Kid.

[@Johnnycdrums]

After the last tag.They say," nice kid". I got that from the album, "The New One". but I heard it here to!

[@errorsofmodernism7331]

Great band

[@HadEnough745]

Love this period of time in his career.

[@cjgaddy]

SAXES(l-r): Pat LaBarbera, Richie Cole, Quin Davis, Don Englert, Joe Calo(b) TPTs(l-r): George Zonce, Mike Price(L), Ken Faulk, John Deflon BONEs(l-r): Malcolm Griffiths, Rick Stepton, Don Switzer(b) P: Joe Azarello B: Rick Laird Buddy Rich Nov.1969 UK TOUR (Ronnie Scotts, Palladium, “Talk of Town”, etc)

[@DrummerDanVa]

A few years later Rick Laird was playing with Billy Cobham in Mahavishnu. Maybe he is a bass player who should get more recognition. He was so steady.

[@beaconmike]

One of the most beautiful and greatest sax solos ever.............not to mention some fine drumming either.

[@mammashane]

Who is the sax player? Don Menza?

[@beaconmike]

@@mammashane Pat Labarbera

[@edellis515]

He always ruled. My god!!!!!!!

[@BerlinTravelApp]

Much obliged for those details, Neal!

[@rossapolis]

I think this concert was originally in full color. The reason why I say this, is because if you check out the Buddy Rich solo clip "Greensleeves", you'll notice that it's from the same show, and that clip is in full color.

[@piotrpaulaka9145]

Omg this man is❤

[@edellis515]

Beyond human

[@gabrielnavarro3833]

Looks like Pat was using a Berg Larsen metal mpc.

[@Deagledrumzz]

I once saw Buddy at his club in NYC. He had a cast on his arm, you would think that would slow him down, well you would be wrong. This man was BLAZING with an arm in a cast. Saw him 3 times, most amazing drummer/musician. Incredible

[@waltgdrums1]

I saw Buddy live 30+ times between 1973-1986. I was blessed

[@gispel7058]

A flute in rotton kid....brilliant!

[@britrpt57]

Thanks so much for posting!!

[@boricua9071]

hip-hop beat at 11:36 freaking awesome!!!!

[@cireravilob]

It almost sounds like “Little Miss Lover” -Hendrix

[@jacko222333]

Yeah, and gets himself dancing to it.

[@ajn465]

Dig the full on power shuffle at 18:55

[@nealbfinn]

Quinn Davis is the lead sax. Don Englert on tenor II and flute solo. Joe Calo on Baritone. Mike Price is the lead tpt. Not sure about lead bone, either Rick Stepton or Bruce Paulson. I'm guessing Paulson. Those are the ones I recognize.

[@Thomlistentoslayer]

and what a mind blowing performance!!!

[@williamfeilhauer2667]

Buddy peaked in his 50s. Didn't slow down till 1985 when the brain tumor started growing . I got that straight from Mel torme.

[@billbush-t5x]

music was once real.

[@DavePlaysTrombone]

Richie Cole on lead alto, Rick Stepton on lead bone

[@mikemcfarland622]

He makes it look so easy, but it sounds impossible!

[@deanbrandl1987]

When you play three or four times a week... Nine or ten months out of the year.. for decades.. you're bound to be great

[@rickviehdorfer4755]

No. Time doesn’t make you great: talent does.

[@onemoremisfit]

@@rickviehdorfer4755 Yep. This is why you see child prodigies with mastery at a young age. They had to put in the practice time, same as anybody else, but the talent determines the dividend of progress yielded per hour of practice. They attain world class mastery in a short time while still young, compared to others who might struggle their entire adult lives to be pretty good.

[@billbush-t5x]

Sax and bone guys are top notch.

[@arthurparker7705]

Would have liked to hear Don on this one than Pat since he’s the one playing it on the record.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Rick Laird on electric bass.

[@artiebreyfogle5813]

Horrible video, but audio is a great listen... I was so lucky to see Buddy several times and he was beyond metaphysical...What an immense talent... He was leaning on a parking meter in downtown old Monterey, CA and I walked up and said I hear you're in town tonight...Without missing a beat he responded "Yeah, and you need to buy a ticket"... Needless to say I did and he knocked the socks off the crowd in a small upstairs dance club in Monterey...Days of Fort Ord there and many soldiers were behind a curtain at the bar suckin' 'em up and making way too much noise...After wailing through "Westside Story Suite" Buddy thanked all in the audience and then looked yonder at the curtain as it was opened to get ready for dancing and hollered to the already inebriated solders, "And F*$K you guys very much too!" What a guy...and what a memorable night...

[@smctrout4423]

"Channel One Suite," a/k/a "Concerto for Big Band."

[@tonymario8118]

Do any of you remember tenor sax player "***JAY CORRE***" HE WAS ON THE WEST SIDE ALBUM AND ALSO WROTE SEVERAL ARRAIGNMENT FOR W ESTSIDE ALBUM ! HE AND I WERE VERY CLOSE HE WAS FEOM ATLANTIC CITY AND WE WOULD PLAY TOGETHER. JAY WAS 92 YRS OLD WHEN HE DIED. DIZZY AND DRUMMER CHRIS COLIMBO WOULD HANG OUT AN ON ONE OCCASION CHRII AND JAY AND DIZZY AND RED FOX,ALING WITH GREG KEYS OF ATLANTA HAD A DINNER PARTY GREG WAS A BASS PLAYER .JAY AND DIZZY WERE MENBERS OF THE BAHI FAITH THAT STARTED OVER 100 YRS AGO IN "IRAN AND WE WOULD ATTEND FIRESIDE MEETINGS AT DIFFERENT HOMES IF YOU GET A CHANCE LOOK INTO THE BAHI FAITH .

[@smctrout4423]

Jay Corre was on "Big Swing Face" too. Played a great solo accompanied only by Buddy on "Silver Threads Among the Blues." I think Buddy poached him from Harry James when he left James to start his new band in the mid 60s.

[@edellis515]

GOD. Period

[@beagleman123456789]

Great 👍

[@Bricameron]

I never thought of Buddy Rich as being a musical drummer. I always thought he was just a show off. Then I saw this. He’s both.

[@skipmessier765]

Don’t know if that was Don Menza or Pat LaBarbera on that tenor solo but he was on fire ! And Buddy….. well the words “ too much “ or “ astounding “ just don’t touch it.

[@MrGb1965]

Did Carl Palmer get inspiration for the beginning of “Tank” from this?

[@Dyrnesli]

Does anybody know where to get the full video from this concert (if possible)? Thanks for posting the clips..

[@Thomlistentoslayer]

sad part is that as time keeps on flying by more modern drummers in these days have no FUCKING clue who is BUDDY RICH!!!

[@eastonpeter1242]

LaBarbara beautiful . Similar sounds to John Park (Kenton)>

[@tm7246]

always wanted to see Buddy and Tony (williams) go at it. I think It would be intresting' I believe Tony is the one person who could stand up to Buddy toe to toe, single stroke to single stroke

[@tm7246]

of course they are both dead

[@tunefultonyjohnson4100]

Trimble Mccullough No, Tony Williams is a great drummer in his own right; he doesn't need to be compared with Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, or any other brilliant player.

[@bigbreadeaterellis]

tunefultony johnson you see how easy it is to fall out over who's better than the next drummer? all of them brought their own unique style to drumming. buddy of course stands out the most not cause he was more talented than the rest, but because of his "unique style" i.e. his perfect control of the single stroke roll. of course tony and Elvin mastered it as well, but when Buddy did it it just captivated the audience unlike when tony or Elvin did it. and if the truth be known, by the 80s buddy's style was old hat and dare I say slightly boring. and his showpiece stuff such as west side story and channel one suite was starting to lose their appeal...well for me anyway. also there was no way a man who started drumming way back in the 1920s would be able to stand his own alongside new up and coming and very gifted drummers such as Dennis chambers for example. buddy was destined to be respected for his outstanding contribution to jazz drumming, but he was also destined I think to become old hat. and I can't imagine buddy being happy going through the single stroke routine if he had lived longer? he had a good innings for someone whose career started a long time ago. I don't think buddy would have fitted in with the stuff tony and Elvin started playing in the 70s and 80s. buddy's writers seemed to be stuck in the "must have a drum solo" in every chart and by the mid 70s the long and often predictable solo's were starting to be boring. and I think that later turned buddy into a circus act which was a pity for someone so very talented.

[@tunefultonyjohnson4100]

bigbreadeaterellis Dear big bread eater: Thank you for your perceptive comments which are appreciated, by me anyways. I agree with pretty well all you say. Buddy Rich started off drumming aged about 2, in his parents' Variety act where he known as 'Traps'. His drum solos as a mature musician were often far too long and far too predictable. Then again, he did record a considerable number of albums and arrangements and he toured extensively from 1967 onwards until his death in 1987. Perhaps it is true what they say, that Variety is the spice of life..... with or without elephants standing on their heads.

[@waltgdrums1]

Tony and Buddy did play together one time at the Grammys. I taped it on VHS as it was aired and still have it. I'm sure it may be on KZbin

[@jonathanedwards8696]

Buddy at Ronnie Scott's? 2 things; How did they fit everybody on stage? Plus, It must have been SO LOUD!

[@vulgivagu]

Not only loud but full of cigarette smoke. What you call a club with atmosphere. Sorely miss it but not the food !

[@jonathanedwards8696]

@@vulgivagu There was no smoking when I was there in 2012. Just like there's no smoking at The Blue Note or The Village Vanguard in New York City. And, who orders food at a jazz club?

[@alfching2499]

@@jonathanedwards8696 There was smoking when I went there mostly in the 60s Ronnie was a chain smoker.I see Buddy Rich there and at the New Victoria Theatre 1966 or 67.and the whole Orchestra was phenomenal not just Mr Rich

[@alfching2499]

@@vulgivagu As Stated Ronnie was a chain smoker,in the 60s 85% or more of the nation smoked.millennials have killed off everything.😂

[@rdangelo8109]

George Zonce tpt?

[@DavePlaysTrombone]

I mean, Richie on 2nd alto....

[@mrbuddyi]

It must be youtube or upload, because i use firefox. Thanks for responding!

[@roybeckerman9253]

Great sounding snare…FIBES..or SLINGERLAND ?

[@primeporkycut]

Looks like a Slingetlamd piccolo.

[@toth1971]

this is REAL drumming jesus wept that left hand is absolute magic god gifted and better with his left hand than me with four limbs...also keith moon and phil collins compared to this drumming come on jesus get real even they as fairly good as they were wouldnt be allowed in buddies world to wear his left sock. 2 other drummers that are insane in my humble opinion are joe morello and jo jo mayer. end of.

[@speedoflite1]

in his prime, prime, prime

[@tolvarr]

Prime? Buddy improved all the way to the end!!

[@speedoflite1]

tolvarr Improved? Sum '86 - Apr '87 had suffered Left-sided paralysis from brain tumor and he was recuperating from surgery. hello?...goodbye left hand!

[@tolvarr]

speedoflite1 Right up to his major illness which sidelined him after Jan. '87 when he recorded the PBS special. Hello? Did you see the special? Hello left hand!!

[@speedoflite1]

tolvarr that's show biz, silly! the poor guy had pain, weakness and left-sided paralysis all along, but thought it was from his bad heart. a wk after 1/15/87, he's totally incapacitated by a brain tumor. ...too bad PBS didn't diagnose it sooner.

[@tolvarr]

speedoflite1 I read the book. PBS special showed "prime" Buddy Rich playing regardless of your "silly" comment..

[@FernandoGonzalez-gb9bs]

Muy hábil pero para mí, siento que no tenía feling

[@primeporkycut]

Okay, yeah, I noticed it's particularly bad viewing it using Google Chrome. It's better using Firefox. I'll see what the options are another time. The original wmv file plays perfectly, so clearly there is an issue on the upload or at youtube's end.

[@TrumpetTNT]

Looks like Rick Stepton on lead bone. The bone on the left is a British guy, Malcolm Griffiths. What's the odds on the previous guy getting fired mid tour? :) Actually, he may have replaced Tony Lada who did leave mid-European tour around that time.

[@mikeprevost8650]

LOL, fired mid tour, stiffed on his pay, no plane ticket home. It happened more than once. The man was an ungodly talent, but he could be an absolute prick. He also loved to hold his lead trumpet on a high G at the end of a song.

[@beaconmike]

Anyone know the Sax Player? Is this Don Menza?

[@dwaynewodonga8554]

beaconmike not certain but I think it's Pat LaBarbera.

[@2utheo]

+beaconmike I'm pretty sure that isn't Don Menza---looks a lot like Pat La B.

[@beaconmike]

+dwayne wodonga Yes in further research, I did confirm that it is Pat LB. Thanks! Menza has it listed in his credentials though.

[@beaconmike]

+Theo Connell Yes it is Pat LB.

[@2utheo]

+beaconmike Menza did play with the Rich band. Not sure of the time frame, however. He is/was a friend of one of my drum teachers, Pete Magadini & played on one of Pete's CD's.

[@egyptianminor]

No guitar in the band at this point...Who' the rhythm section-piano/bass?

[@soduno596]

Bass: Tony Levin. Keys I don't know :/

[@mikeromano2219]

BASS ; RICK LAIRD SOLO

[@bigswingface5847]

Joe Azarello at the piano.

[@egyptianminor]

Thanks for the info.

[@DavePlaysTrombone]

Definitely Stepton on lead/solo bone

[@mrbuddyi]

Sound is off slightly!

[@EdWatts]

Neil Peart is good, but he would pay money to shine Buddy's shoes.

[@ericdreizen1463]

Tony Williams couldn't shine a single one of Buddy Rich's shoes. He couldn't even wear Buddy's socks.

[@tunefultonyjohnson4100]

Eric Dreizen Tony Williams could read music and Buddy Rich couldn't. That's why Buddy's playing was all over the place.

[@ericdreizen1463]

How the f do u know what he could read? If he did, he had to becz he didn't a photographic memory like Buddy did. U might try listing to him before u make an incorrect, airhead, pos statement like that.

[@tunefultonyjohnson4100]

Eric Dreizen If I tried listing too much I might fall over :)

[@2utheo]

+tunefultony johnson "All over the place"? I really don't know how you can say this. One of the things that strikes me about Buddy, beside his phenomenal playing is how he knows the arrangement inside & out without having to read. It's unbelievable. I think anyone that has played drums in a big band would agree.

[@bcdrummer1962]

+Eric Dreizen My opinion: I think to get to a higher level of musicianship we need to stop thinking in terms of who is better, and making these kinds of comparisons. Who is "better" - irrelevant. What makes each player an individual voice - totally relevant and endlessly fascinating. Not trying to change your opinion, just adding some food for thought. Swing on!!