Butch Miles 1944-2023

[@icacees.c.5894]

Dear Butch: thanks a lot for your music, your swing. God bless You wherewer You are!

[@johnboyle6867]

THE cleanest crisp inventive musicians, EVER!! Got to meet him with the Basie band. Class gentleman with humility. Doesn't get better than that.

[@onceovereasy1529]

An important part of our musical generation...Butch was the best...thank you for your music and those wonderful single rolls...awesome. RIP

[@sveinerikverbekk1568]

One of my favorite drummer thanks for all you have given me.

[@barriegott8584]

I met Butch in Australia when his was on tour with Count Basie. What a gentleman and great player. Loved his work.

[@TheJollycoppers]

I met him at a jazz club in Washington, DC. And I agree. He was extremely approachable. Very cool guy. Happy to speak with anyone.

[@johnasti7429]

Did a guess concert with Butch as the soloist about 15 years ago. Great man,, exceptional player.....We all had a great time!!! Thank you Butch.. RIP

[@turbo7757]

RIP Butch. So glad to have shared music and Austin with you. May God bless your soul.

[@stix9567]

saw Butch with Basie around '77 at the Bottom LIne---- still one of the highlights of my life!

[@joepalooka2145]

I had the privilege of seeing Butch Miles live with Count Basie a few years before the Count passed away, which is the time period shown in this video. I'll never forget his fantastic drumming. I had never heard of him until then and I was blown away. RIP for a true musical giant and a legend of the drums. PS---- and I recall Freddie Green looking bored and half asleep through the whole show LOL.

[@ericdreizen1463]

Rest in peace, oh Great One. And thank you!

[@johnastrup1549]

Butch Miles a new BUDDY RICH, and I got lucky to meet them on this clip from Tivoli Garden 1976. Also all autograph in Copenhagen. Wonderful people ,wonderful musis. ⭐🇺🇲

[@fweddyfwintsone4491]

Great drummer. I was forunate to catch him live with Count Basie in New Orleans. RIP Mr. Miles.

[@jeffschoening7049]

I went back stage once in Sioux City IA after a Basie concert in the 1990s. I asked where Butch was, and one of the guys in the band pointed said, "he's over there........sweating". He was super nice and gave me an autograph. One of the all time best big band drummers. Right up there with Buddy and Gene in my book. RIP

[@jimflys2]

I just love how Al Grey is looking over with pure joy seeing Butch just shred. Al was such a bog brother to Butch and helped him with all the unknowns when he was new to the band. And Freddy, is just sitting there. "I think I am going to have me a nice dinner after the gig." So stoic. Butch was really on at this performance. Just killer. What an important role model he was.

[@arame29]

Check out Al sitting in with Buddy's band in Sweden in 86

[@jimsmither2324]

Awesome

[@LaurenPsych50]

Thanks for sharing, Mike. Great retrospective!!

[@johnhewitt3330]

I met Butch back in his days with Mel Torme and we were acquaintances all the way until I said good bye. Butch was a great human being and marvelous drummer. I will miss him until we meet some other place.

[@leonidassavalas745]

I really never heard of him and I feel ashamed. Great musicality and chops. Impossible to play like that and not be a great man. I have added Butch to my list of all time greats. RIP Butch Miles.

[@steveconnolly1617]

Saw Basie many times. Sonny Payne was #1; Butch, #1. Just bad nasty. Harold Jones, Duffy Jackson. Butch was one of the few who could carry Buddy's book bag. Shit. They're all gone. Hardly worth getting up in the morning any more.

[@Profartiste]

What an incredible drummer !

[@ibleebinU]

Class musicians of the like we'll never see again. RIP Butch Miles.

[@2science]

Butch came in for a big band weekend at the Greenbrier hotel and, as part of that, agreed to give a clinic and a concert with our high school jazz ensemble. I got to pick him up at the airport, hear the stories of the nights before and watch him drum on my dash. When we got to the high school, the drummer got up and gave him the chart. He handed the drum chart to the drummer and asked for a copy of the lead trumpet sheet. I can’t tell you how good our little WV high school jazz band sounded with Butch driving us. His talent was remarkable and he was humble and genuinely interested in making us better musicians. He was a good one…in the limelight and in ways not many people would ever notice.

[@newleaf9]

Saw him with the Basie band in a concert in Honolulu 1979 or 1980. I recorded that concert and still have the cassette tapes. Awesome night of swing. RIp Butch

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Beautiful video, thanks for posting it! 👍👌🥁🎶🥁🎶🥁🙏🙏

[@Ds_Drums]

Man what a talented drummer. We lost one of the true greats.

[@samzucchini3430]

Wonderful montage. Thank you.

[@pjbilodeau]

Was fortunate enough to meet Butch before a Count Basie Band performance near my home about 20 years ago, he was very gracious, and his playing was out of this world, just a terrific show. Awesome drummer, Butch you will be missed, RIP

[@jenslindstrom3257]

He was an excepetional musician Mr Miles is in many ways ahead of our time i saw im as a kid in my city with my father , jazzdrummer. I think Mr Butch Buthered with love his drums that night. You were delicate and sweet with your sticks, more brush i wanted to hear.. Your drumming is to be heard from now to ever. Tell your buddy Mr Rich to take care..

[@badtriad9684]

Surprised is FIRST i'm hearing of this OUT'TA SIGHT drummer!!! Thanks for posting!!

[@michaelperry4320]

Now that is how to kick Ass..........R.I.P. Thanks for the music Butch......

[@marceibel1131]

R.iP. Mr. Butch Miles. What a brilliant musician.

[@daryljay7057]

God, he was just having a ball up there! What a fabulous musician! One of the GREATEST drummers who ever lived! Guys like Butch are the reason most rock drummers don't impress me very much. This is percussion at a whole other level!

[@bobbykidd3109]

You’re a true inspiration R.I.P Butch…

[@jeanlorieau4890]

Merci Robby pour ce montage et ces images. R.I.P. Butch.... Amitiés à toi.JL

[@Jez1963UK]

I only ever knew Butch from the Dave Brubeck quartet, this is the first time I've heard him play big band. My God. To my ears, and my taste, I prefer his playing to Buddy Rich's Big Band Sound. What a player. RIP Butch, I've now got to go watch and catch up on your other performances here on KZbin. RIP.

[@jimmerli1765]

Always wondered why Butch Miles never played at any of the the Buddy Rich Memorial concerts ??

[@robertreedy414]

Best Basie drummer for me, and there were a lot 8:37 of amazing ones. Bombdroppin fool❤

[@spontaneousgroovincombusti2902]

Tremendous! RIP Butch.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Some brilliant playing on the white Pearl kit.. What a great drummer.. I’d love to know what snare he was using there..

[@clicks59]

Thanks for the tribute. I saw him with Basie in 1976. He was a being from another planet. No human could ever be as accurate as Butch was. RIP, my brother.

[@ngunnawalmick7029]

In my book, the drummer in a BIG band is always the coolest. Vale Butch.

[@onejagjeff]

Lovely tribute Robby.

[@rodcoombes8711]

Can now rest in peace with Buddy and Gene and all those greats .

[@bastianpols6536]

Ich habe ihn in Bingen gesehen. Ein großartiges Ereignis! Traumhaft guter Schlagzeuger. Ruhe in Frieden!

[@danielmargolis3210]

I heard Butch with Basie several times.

[@vueloimaginario]

Que gran talento y maestría con los tambores. QEPD maestro Butch Miles.

[@loucontino4804]

I met Butch in 1985 at a Drum Clinic. He opened his clinic playing Max’s “For Big Sid” and it was so melodic, I was just floored. Rest In Peace Butch.

[@boydx4687]

The John Bonham/Butch Miles photo cracked me up. I also loved the lyricism of Butch's solo. He quotes rhythms of the Whirleybird melody. And then Basie aprovingly looks on. This folks, is how it is done. This is a great tribute

[@dubbtubbdrum]

a great inspiration, he will be missed

[@MusicLiberates]

The incredible Butch Miles. I saw Butch play in concert with Basie and he tore it up, just like in this video.

[@clivegaby7775]

What a fantasict drummer, i have on video backing Basie. R.I. P.

[@PatHooker]

Heard Butch with the Woody Herman Band in the 1970`s in Daytona Beach.

[@mitchmcelwain7240]

Wow!what a drummer

[@l.dassen5919]

I'm sdorry, to hear this sad news.. R.I.P.

[@chesterfieldstorage1647]

Helluva drummer, helluva life!!

[@DaNiyaHodge]

Rip Charles J. Thornton Jr, you will be missed

[@bengtwahlstedt1021]

RIP ONE OF THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!

[@gadymarcus2362]

Magnifico.😭

[@charleswinokoor6023]

And he got a great sound from that Pearl kit.

[@robertreedy414]

Open closed roll still the measure of a master.

[@rembeadgc]

That man earned his paycheck!

[@Prudoco]

where did the time go? In my mind, i always remember him looking 21 years old.

[@sheldondyer871]

He looks like a nicer version of buddy rich

[@pgroove163]

🥁...... memories eternal

[@ChuckParDue1953]

Butch Miles stands next to Buddy Rich, and Sonny Payne, as the greatest Big Band drummers of all time!

[@arame29]

Very saddened to hear he was sick for so long. He played differently thru the years, finding his own voice It was Buddy who recommended him to the Count I believe he also played with Mel Torme.

[@riddick764]

Encore un grand qui nous quitte, une bien triste nouvelle 😪😪

[@gaetanomagliuolo]

GRANDEEEEEE !!🙏🙏

[@Sic4ce]

How come I've never heard of him until now?!

[@jameslabs1]

Peace.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

double time

[@JBPerraudindrummerOfficial]

Ce monstre!!!!

[@fruitcake241]

I `was fortunate to hear Butch live