LOUIE BELLSON

Louie Bellson & his Explosion Big Band from the Cork Jazz Festival 1980,playing his solo from 'Explosion'. In terms of power and sheer stamina Louie was the man!

[@britrpt57]

I was the trumpet player on the end of the section next to Louis. I played lead on this chart. His energy, personality and musicianship was an inspiration to all of us. Brian O'Flaherty.

[@1drumnut]

For those of you who haven't heard the sad news, Louie Bellson died yesterday on February 14, 2009. He had been in very serious condition with major complications after breaking his hip. Louie was a great inspiration to me and other drummers. His talent on the drums was only matched by his musicianship as composer and arranger, and his great humility. He leaves a legacy that would do any of us proud, and he'll be missed. Alden Merrill

[@yumha38]

Mr Bellson was a complete musician....you can hear in his drumming....a 'melody' is played on drums...he takes us on a musical journey...Buddy was pure chops....Both giants...R.I.P gents!

[@Drumminman4U]

He was in great form on this clip. I miss Louie, Buddy and that whole era. I consider myself so lucky to have seen them play live when I was young. Like Louie used to say about the jazz era...."their time was the greatest".

[@marcusianguzman5533]

as someone who has been playing Drums for nearly Forty Year's i've listened to buddy rich and gene krupa Chick Webb. Louie Bellson is as Great as Buddy Rich and i've studied these guy's intently as well as papa jo jones as well as Sid Catlett.Louie is neck and neck with buddy rich. RIP Mr Bellson

[@adityatyagi4009]

Yes, I agree. It saddens me when people smear LB for not being as "good" as BR.

[@BigBillLucas]

@@adityatyagi4009 When Buddy passed in 87 Louie Bellson had his glory as the number one drummer for a few years, however the "old school drummer" was passing away quickly and the nineties saw the rise of a new hyper drum generation with the likes of Weckle Chambers etc. Buddy Rich and the old school genre faded out of site for fifteen years until around 2005 Buddy Rich videos were being uploaded on you tube and WAM Buddy was back to stay (including Louie Bellson) inspiring a whole new generation of young drummers.

[@adityatyagi4009]

@@BigBillLucas Yes, totally agree with everything you say. The drummers now are so insanely talented that I'm sure BR and some of the grand masters would be proud. In fact, Roy Haynes is one of the last living drummers from that era who has witnessed it all. Thanks for your comment.

[@jod49]

I was at this concert and was stunned by his footwork and the fact that he used 2 bass drums..It was a 1st for me to see or hear the use of the 2 bass drums...Sheer magic...A True Legend..

[@drummsticker]

Just goes to show...you don't have to have a 40+ piece drumkit to play with with style. Amazing snare licks, technique and incredible rudimental attack. A true master of the kit. Louie, I'm sure you're playing up there with your buddies having drumoffs. Thanks for sharing this great footage!! RIP Louie....

[@maalth]

Rip Louie Bellson. He was not only a great drummer. He was also a great man.

[@DrummerMan1966]

A true master at work! He made the drums sing! He had such a touch and attack! I hope I can play that well when i get older!He was the first drummer to introduce double bass drums and rock drummers soon follow suit.He will be missed in the drumming communtiy. Rest in peace L.B.

[@glennmach]

Wow !!!! Louie Bellson Number 1 Jazz Drummer ! The Best !! Fantastic and Great Showmanship as well ! Enjoyed this Awesome Drum solo. Thumbs Up ! ..Regards,Marc Jones..Los Angeles,U.S.A. (Australian Vocalist-pop/jazz/swing/American songbook)-Sydney-Oz : )

[@rigmorskar2769]

The best drummer in the world..I played with him in Donte's in 1972..on Hammond B3 .. Thank you Louie for ever ..

[@bubses]

Wow. Louie is unbelievable here. He outdid Buddy on this one. I'd have to say Louie is the better matched grip player than Buddy is. What Buddy does w/traditional, Louie can do w/matched here. And just when you think he's going to 'bust his chops' and have no more left, he just keeps going. Incredible. You should post more from this concert if you have it.

[@nthdegree1269]

my goodness gracious. what is it with the stamina that these guys had from way back when? this is unbelievable.

[@mikebuddy1]

Sad to hear of the passing of Louie,still at 85 years on the planet that's not bad for a jazz musican.Who's left that can equal louie,the world & music is without another great talent that can not be replaced.RIP Louie Bellson.Your music lives on.

[@britrpt57]

I'm in the trumpet section on that one. The tall skinny kid on the left end next to Louis. Great band of New York and LA players. It was a real education for me being 23 at the time and right out of college-- a young greenhorn. That band included Frank Strazzeri on piano, Bobby Shew on trumpet, and Joe Romano and Arnie Lawrence in the sax section. We did an album in London at the end of that tour called "London Scene" on the Concord label but it may be out of print now.

[@anthem74]

Simply awsome! He's clearly having a great time. The master at work.

[@speedoflite1]

@SAHBfan Buddy was simply the best! ...head 'n' shoulders above the rest. Yet I was thrilled to see Bellson & his band (live performance) while still in his prime (early 70s); long b4 his skills had eroded prior to his death in 2009. Nice guy. Buddy and Louie B. were lifelong friends, and they respected each other's talents.

[@mikebuddy1]

Yes,it has a pedal.These drums were made by Remo& called Roto Toms, & Louie featured them alot when they were being promoted by Remo.One great example is an Album which features him playing on a complete set of Roto Toms .The Album title is Louie Bellson's 7 from 1976 Check it out.

[@fishbonebuba]

Fantastic. Thanks for posting.

[@mikebuddy1]

I think my favourite album (drum sounding wise) is 'The Dynamic Drums of Louie Bellson' fromm '66.the sound here from the kit so beautiful.great big band & charts too.

[@mickim1953]

My arms and wrists are worn out just watching this solo,and who does a solo with wire brushes'!? Rich had nothing on Louie,or Gene,but Louie never ceases to amaze me.What a musician!

[@DrummerMan1966]

I agree! The man was amazing!

[@famoussmalldrums]

One his best solos Louie was having a good night........top notch energy chops feet ...but of course it is Louie Bellson what do you expect.

[@GrandeCapo_PallaPesante]

Grande Maestro, R.I.P. e grazie di tutto.

[@MarkR1957]

Louis kicking some VERY major ass here on this one. Splendid ~

[@rdangelo]

Love the brush work.

[@markhotdeals]

o yes we miss him. a fantastick drummer.and as good as buddy rich .and if you ever hat the chane to meet him.he was a very nice men. yes i did have the pleasher to meet them both in my life time.both out standing drummers .i got on you tube last week .i dond know who he is or from .his name is fon morcus. he is a heck of a drummer. and can hold his own against buddy or louie .you just got to see this guy. he.s got to be in his 70ssss.the best show. maybe in the world

[@cavalierfan1995]

rip louie you were the greatest

[@RandyHanley]

holy cow.. I've never seen him with brushes. he's amazing!

[@HeavyOpera1]

Awesome solo by Louie. I love that he pulled out the brushes.

[@jaschaheifetz]

Well said. Thanks for posting.

[@shadoogie61]

Phenominal!!!!! My all time hero. I wore out my record of Skin Deep. Rest in Peace Louie

[@morrisonmoon]

the greatest of all time......louie bbbb

[@MalcolmBigley]

An Inspiration to me !!!!!!

[@lonnieljones]

What I always appreciated about Louie most was his ability to "texture" the sound of his drums. He played his solos very melodically and dynamically. It was not only technically exciting for us drummers, but also entertaining for the audience.

[@danlc95]

Not only deos he play with the touch of a master, he looks super cool here too.

[@audiophile55]

Hi. The drum he's using on his left is a "Hollywood 'President' " by Meazzi drum co.out of Milan, Italy. These were made in the 60's and 70's. They had a pedal that stretched the head, just like a timpani does, with spokes and such inside the drum shell. He no doubt had it mounted somehow so it was a little higher because I believe they only made them in floor tom models.

[@jamiequinlan]

:O one of my new fav drummers!

[@jimmibudd]

thanks! i'll check it out.

[@yumha38]

Also if I may ad Mr Rich was playing since he was 2 years old....people who are blessed with such a talent usually do not develop the best social skills...While MR rich was very quick on his feet, he would tell you where to go and how to get there...without regard to one's feelings.

[@StevieArt]

Legend.

[@renatolarsen]

Unbelievable!!!!!!

[@xyloman2003]

I'm tired of hearing Buddy was faster than Louie or better. Each had there own greatness and was as fast as the other as evidenced here. Neither thought one was greater than the other. On the Gene Krupa Jazz Legend Video, Louie said that when he and Buddy were with Gene at his house in Yonkers, Gene said, "I can't do what you guys do..." and both Buddy & Louie looked at him amazed, because they had so much respect for Gene's musicianship and showmanship. LB-a great musician and gentleman.

[@adityatyagi4009]

Yeah, I agree. I can't stand it when people smear LB for not being as "good" as BR. They are missing the entire point of music...

[@vinceventresca6763]

It’s mind-boggling to read that Gene Krupa didn’t believe that he belonged up there in the pantheon with Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson. Gene Krupa takes a back seat to no one, a feeling evidently shared by Buddy and Louie.

[@barbarossa678]

Louie Bellson plays more modern & "cooler" then Buddy Rich we must admit - especialy he invented the Double Bass Drumming ! Buddy Rich not !! Mr.Rich was great in playing mostly Single Strokes Rolls & some other traditionals in jazz drumming coz he's the older Generation Born in 1917 - but Louie Bellson Born in 1924 uses also more Double Strokes - Paradidles - 6 stroke rolls etc. and he looks very relaxed - coz he plays very "economic" more "progressive" then Mr.Rich ! not until his tongue "hangs out" ! sometimes I have the Impression while I watch to Buddy Rich that his tongue will coming out & he's getting heard attack The Invention from Mr. Bellson - to play a Double Bass is a Standard for most of the Drummers today ! Thank you - Louie Bellson - unforgetable !

[@Thomlistentoslayer]

than* and Mr. Rich didn't play a 20 piece drum set with 30 cymbals to sound good.

[@gogharmonics]

RIP . . . So Sad

[@designermite]

Very coool indeed!

[@isiskitty219]

this man is or was, the definition, with the peers prior like Rich and Krupa, of precision. Just the tip of the ice-burg... as percussion, JoJo , can't forget him... but he's later.

[@mgafcm]

R.I.P.

[@charlessavarese]

This is the only guy Buddy Rich trusted to take his place when he needed a fill-in for his orchestra. What does that tell you? In jazz drumming, there was the "Big 3": Rich, Krupa, and Bellson. There all gone now.

[@grousserr]

Prime Tiiiime!

[@mikebuddy1]

As i remember the traditional style came from the marching fife & drums corps, where the only way of playing those awkward tenor drums was to to sling the drum to one side at an angle in order to be able to march,thus the playing surface was also at an angle,hence the traditional style.Maybe someone with the history could comment!

[@SJYNYC]

I had no idea he was married to Pearl Bailey for almost 40 years (until her death). Marrying a black woman in 1952 took a lot of courage. Incredible talent.

[@jimmibudd]

does the drum to his left have a pedal to adjust the pitch? i like the way he spins the roto toms to get a higher pitch... his snare work and cymbal use is awesome.. i will definately try to incorporate more of this style in my solos amazing

[@WeirdestGuy29]

Ahhhh, fair enough. :)

[@mikebuddy1]

I'm not trying to defend Louie but i think the work he did to advance the doublebass Drums was only a fraction of what Louie achieved in his career.His Composing & Arranging,his leadership with his all star big bands and Othe Bands,his very aproachable character,and his frightening technique & his time to me made him a one off.I was in front of louies double Bass Drums & Mammy daddies in full flight & there was nothing else like it.WW3.listen to him on conversations & you know what i mean.

[@DrummerMan1966]

Travis Barker actually admired and respected drummers like Dennis Chambers, Stewart Copeland,Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson.

[@redsox1006]

I gotta say that buddy rich is the best no question

[@RockGranit]

Louie was more experimental than Buddy, with the double bass drums, roto toms, and other 'extras' that Buddy didn't use. But for pure command of the intsrument, Buddy Rich was THE man.

[@mikebuddy1]

Brian O'Flattery ?. I have that album.Louies Big Bands had more freedom for players to stretch out on solos,& what lineups Louie had.You were in good company.I remember you stretched out on 'Intimacy of the Blues'

[@SAHBfan]

@Speedoflite1: >" "Buddy was the greatest drummer he had ever seen" (so, u can draw your own conclusions). " Yeah... I'd conclude that Louis Bellson was a generous and modest guy from that. Why is it that on every Louis vid someone has to come along and say that 'Buddy was better'? Even if it were true, Louis was a great band leader, writer, arranger, teacher, innovator and in great demand with all the top band leaders as he was such a great guy to work with... Buddy was a great drummer.

[@drummer1966123]

hey india...you are so right...for me it was gene if not for him i would not be a drummer...in buddys own words in the book baby traps....buddy said ( if it was not for gene krupa there would be no buddy rich...i love the man so much i copied his drum set up)...some drummers play the drums...some make music with the drums...gene was the inovator..alll others took what he had and built on it

[@mikebuddy1]

Did'nt they use calf skins in those days(Skin Deep orig recording)?As against plastic heads there is a big difference in sound IMO,although they got a great sound from using the brushes.I would find it hard to tell the difference (soundwise ) with calfskin between the drummers in those days.On some recordings the tones are so different,did'nt they have problems keeping in tune.Don't know (not that old!)Ha,Ha.

[@CaptainFalcon-exboyfriend]

Dude if he was alive he could be a huge drum and bass artist as well as a jazz musician haha.

[@RandyHanley]

I like Bellson's hi hat work much more than Buddy Rich. Budd had that monster left.. Bellson had so much good Soul.

[@Indiasrainbow]

Every drummer has his/her own style/ flavour, saying any is better than the other is like saying music is not about expression of the soul or feel. Buddy couldn't make the drums sing like krupa could, krupa couldn't thrash out what buddy did. Just like red doesn't look like green or apples do not taste like strawberries. each have their very own special qualities.

[@soihcc]

very urgent, please can someone tell me where i can find drum tabs of one of louie bellson's songs? it is really important i need one of his songs in drum tabs, his notes and everything, please help

[@BossestRetrorockerz]

hella sad he died.....and zomg i cant believe i found this out...but that is true..my auntie is louie bellson's real daughter....its hella weird but true and then my aunties step dad is dave black or whatever.....but dave black's son had used a stage name (i dont know what his sons real name is) but he was the drummer to a band called The police.i couldnt believe that my auntie was louie bellsons daughter.. and her step dad is dave black.louie bellsons her real dad messageme ifugot questions...

[@gnaku]

Buddy got all the limelight. Louie got to play the Sacred Concert. One guy was a gentleman, the other was a real dick (no disrespect to his mad skills). RIP, Louie! Enjoy eternity with Pearl and the Duke!

[@soihcc]

@ChiTown7721 ok i wil try and order it, thank you for your help :) i appreciate it very much

[@jmsbk12345]

Is that Spock on drums? Surely the greatest drummer there is.

[@bcc50]

Hello mikebuddy1...is there any chance you can list the players in the band? Thanks

[@tonydir5673]

Very close to Buddy in how a drumsolo should be played

[@whity72]

Definitely the master of melodic drumming. Buddy had a tapdancing left hand, unreached in his speed, but Rich often disappointed my ears (not eyes!) by lousy tom-cymbal-combinations. Bellson has another virtuosity and "tells smoother stories" on his kit than "Hormon-Buddy" did. However - a master!

[@cjparrott]

i'm gonna start drumming in a suit jacket...

[@leo2nd74]

No wonder Buddy Rich asked him to take over on drums for his band when he was sick.

[@babybluesnowden]

i got to see louie in 82 at the mba national marching band finals in johnson city, TN the man is extraordinary, he played part of his solo with four sticks! buddy may be a faster drummer? louie is a better percussionist in my opinion! didnt he found ludwig drums? overall, i think louies the best

[@nardrebel]

That's a Roto-Tom with a foot pedal, doing the glissando.

[@Domydoor]

if musicians had a taste, bellson would be a cool coffee full of caffine xD

[@soihcc]

@ChiTown7721 i just need drum tabs of one of his songs, even better if it is played with the double pedal, i need to analyze his technique and style, how he uses the double pedal, so just his song in drum tabs plss :)

[@BossestRetrorockerz]

but anyway R.I.P LOUIE BELLSON ....so sad.......

[@MarcusFinnie]

Yes 1:29

[@nadir6661]

Tony Montana drumming cool.. :)

[@speedoflite1]

Close but no cigar, compared to Buddy. Still, Louie is remembered as one of the greatest drummers of all time. Saw him in person at Robin Hood Dell (Philly) in early '70s, and he was nothing short of phenomenal that nite. Louie, himself, told the audience that, "Buddy was the greatest drummer he had ever seen" (so, u can draw your own conclusions).

[@bclaus0]

impressive. but, if he had had some groove... I like the tom or snare with the pitch difference though =P

[@squarbman21]

buddy richs twin brother

[@IvoMaropo]

No, I won't, simply because my own opinion is also a right I own as well. Also, my "opinion" is well placed, argued, full of examples and observations. I actually care to make inteligible. I want others to understand the foundations of my opinion. Its not just a matter of taste and a irrational afection for someone's playing and character, its ALSO a matter of looking for differences (even "objective" differences such as speed).

[@tman10003]

Buddy who?

[@IvoMaropo]

Mathematical beauty presented into his solo compositions as a whole and the way he understood snare and kit dynamics. A LOT superior to Mr. Bellson's playing, imo.

[@IvoMaropo]

In my well argued "opinion" Buddy was a better drummer, but Louie is still better than I'll ever get.

[@bclaus0]

I admit he can play the drums with alot of groove (skin deep?) He's an awesome drummer. Though I still think practically all drum solo's must have some groove, I just didn't like this one. ;)

[@IvoMaropo]

Bellson is always compared with Buddy due to their style resemblance, and not exactly by the quality of their phrasings, their drum imaginations, sense of on the spot composition. Buddy had a beautiful swing feel on everything he played. You just need to try to understand it. Its all over the place. Loue had admited Buddy's one-of-a-kind nature many times during his lifetime. Watch his comments on Buddy on his "Buddy Rich Jazz Legend 1917-1987" DvD and you shall see it for yourself.

[@IvoMaropo]

What I see in Mr. Bellson's playing are lots of unappealing moellered snare dynamics, while Buddy had a perfect construction in mind for most of what he played. Bellson's solos didn't look very cohesive by any stretch of the imagination. He was great, of course, but he didn't have the same mathematical brilliance while playing that Buddy had.

[@IvoMaropo]

Buddy also had even greater stamina and had a gifted, dancing left hand. His hi hat playing was also more impressive, swinguy and faster. All that makes Buddy an all-around more impressive drummer than Louie, in my opinion. Louie is still phenomenal though. Nothing short of amazing.

[@ifihaf2]

Punk jazz drum solo

[@IvoMaropo]

Its great but also very messy (something Buddy would never do later in his life). The way Buddy did arm crossings, the speed he reached during his single stroke crescendo and his one handed rolls are just 3 things Louie quite never did as good. Also, while Loue does some moeller-based fast dynamics on the snare, those syncopations are nowhere near as beautifully varied and well thought as Buddy's. I really don't believe that.

[@IvoMaropo]

Impossible. No one has ever "outdone" Buddy Rich. Maybe you're watching the wrong Buddy Rich videos then. BR was the greatest drum set player of all time. He was also among the greatest snare-alone players as well, along geniusis such as Alex Duthart, Jim Kilpatrick and Jeff Queen. Louie is fantastic here, but he alternates awesome moments with some long uninteresting ones. This solo does not feel cohesive in any way.