Birdland Performed by the Buddy Rich Big Band

[@mightya]

My favorite Buddy story was when he was admitted to the hospital and was asked if he had allergies. "Yes. Country music."

[@none5020]

brian solodar Then he died.

[@garypugh1153]

Country music sucks.......buddy said in his video...."glen campbell is the wayne newton of country music " pretty funny 😎

[@comeacross9]

Buddy is in my top five of men who have sat behind a kit but Glen Campbell,while not at the level of a top tier jazz player,was a fine musician.

[@red5243]

brian solodar v

[@mickeekroth4427]

Buddy was an exellent drummer but knew too little about music history.

[@parkourbigbird2378]

I love how Buddy rarely looks at his drums, as if he's transcended the need to look at them. All he does is scowl at his band and keep tempo flawlessly. A true monster.

[@Phelibas]

i dont look at my drums when i play them...

[@erraticboss168]

He watching for even 1 mistake......

[@JesseP.Watson]

Buddy Rich, intimidating as hell...That stare, that face; like a ******* huge hound, a slathering Great Dane, crouched on the lawn at a summer BBQ party. ...Staring at the children, waiting for one of them to drop a beat so he can gobble them up. ...GRRRRR! :-D

[@stewartnicol3028]

ParkourBigbird if you need to look at your kit....well, sorry but you are not yet a drummer. 🙏

[@Rob_Kates]

The drums were just an extension of his body. He did not need to look at them.

[@bruceanderson9381]

For those who want to look for a reason to dis Buddy...you miss the big picture. He is attempting to achieve perfection and hires his own band to do so. His dream, his band. Go for it. I performed with him along with the Williamsport, Pa. Pops Orchestra in the mid 80's. I was seated directly behind him on trombone. He heard every note I played. He and I had a great conversation sitting there before the show. Nothing but another super memory. Thank-you Walter Straiton!!

[@styvnel]

Thanks for the share

[@kaijukid9644]

nah, he was just a bully

[@paullevine1813]

@@kaijukid9644 You obviously don't know your Buddy Rich... Bully ,na perfectionist yes... He stated over & over you want to e in this band you better give 100% . Why not he gave even more.

[@Rob_Kates]

It was Buddy's name on the marquee. If the band was off, it was a bad reflection on him.

[@danadouglas2674]

Naw. I played in Buddy's band in the 1980s. He was abusive AF. It didn't have anything to do with perfectionism. It had to do with Buddy's mood and his need to gratify his own toxic narcissism by smashing people. It was kind of bipolar, in that one day he'd be perfectly nice and the next, for no reason whatsoever, he'd be a monster. He was a great drummer, but a despicable human being.

[@cockrield]

Look at Buddy scrutinizing his band for a single mistake, watching them like a hawk, all while keeping immaculate time. My word.

[@cockrield]

??

[@cockrield]

Ha no need for apologies, I was just curious!

[@D00M3R-SK8]

that's funny man, I hadn't noticed that at first and I've watched this video a lot.

[@FlowerRFabulous]

lol and he has that evil scowl on his face like ike gave tina turner

[@VandelayIndustries61]

Cockriel D Tough but fair, I've heard if a band member was "layin' it down" to Buddy's satisfaction he'd pay the guy a bonus out of pocket. Just what I've heard, who knows.

[@KyleDavisMusic]

Can we just take a moment to realize how brilliant Marcus' sax solo is in this? Insanity.

[@hankmobley]

Marcus was a great saxophone player ...!

[@iedermensisanders]

I was there at this concert, my dad worked for Northsea Jazz for nearly 20 years it was so awesome it gave my and my little brother full acces to our music heroes. Every year for three days in July the Netherlands was the centre of live jazz music and no where else in the world was a bigger jazz festival with more acts and more concerts cramped into one weekend than at Northsea Jazz Festival in The Hague, my hometown. God I miss those days when music was still pure art

[@richardconnolly1232]

after Buddy's passing I worked with Steve in Atlantic City.... although I am proud of the band I had working there, Steve was used to THIS level of musicianship- truly another planet!!! as sweet a guy he was and team player he would occasionally muter "I miss Buddy". The point being he was accustomed to working at the highest levels of perfection. Steve was a great humble guy, fun to be around and fascinating guy to work with.. "I miss STEVE"

[@musicis101]

Hahaha I love how all the horn players that aren't soloing just all of a sudden bust out like 20 random percussion instruments. But seriously, this has to be one of the greatest big bands of all time.

[@angelo2629]

Tight like a rope. Laughed 1st time horns took to percussion. Ex took care of him at um/ann arbor.

[@rushadpatel2608]

Buddy Rich has the best smile ever !!!

[@derfgaming2254]

Rushad Patel what smile.

[@michaelabbo2779]

Don’t think anyone has ever seen it lol

[@cerocero769]

Michael Abbo wooosh!!

[@thecelerystick1015]

Le Bruh hes joking tone bruh

[@paullevine1813]

@@michaelabbo2779 Silly statement ,Buddy had a dry & witty sense of humor but not only did he have a great smile in case you never saw him with Johnny Carson. He was so intense on the bandstand he had no time to smile . No one in the crowd smiled much either ,they were to mesmerized to . You want to see him smile watch him on the many Carson shows he was a guest.. There's a great photo of Buddy holding Kathy Rich as a baby , wanna find that & you will one fine smile. Really though the bottom line here is we came to hear him play not smile LOL..

[@djlippy1111]

i was there!!!! i lived in the hague my dad worked for paul acket onnschiphol got everybody for free with out overweight on the plane ,than he became oscar peterson roadmanager world wide,so proud of him and so happy imwas born to him!! buddy gave me 8 ludwig sticks than back stage

[@djkentuckyham]

Perfection. There will never be another Buddy Rich. Christ, the whole band. Simply off-the-hook-genius musicians. They are enlightened high priests of music making.

[@jtBrander]

He hated playing this song, at his show at Barrymores in Ottawa he asked us (the audience) for requests. when a few shouted this song he said in a slightly disgusted tone "don't you people have any imagination?" and then of course they played it brilliantly. after the show i hounded the bus driver to let me on the bus and meet him. I still have the 8X10 that he gave me and the drum head I got him to sign. a class act.

[@RobertABooey75]

Him screaming at his players on the bus is a real class act

[@fatjonseatingadventures5429]

@@RobertABooey75 He was a dick but he just wanted perfection. He expected everyone at his level.

[@johndowns3839]

That might've been a little unrealistic, considering the people he'd played with in his life weighed against their limited experience. Unrealistic but at the same time understandable.

[@randyisfrank1]

@@RobertABooey75 He was right

[@randyisfrank1]

He wasn't a " dick " - this coming from someone he told to " get the fuck away from me " the first time I met him. @@fatjonseatingadventures5429

[@angelomihalis1808]

What great music!!! Best of the big band era and a scorching solo on the sax. Watching the horn section go to percussion makes me laugh every time. Musical history as there will never be another Buddy Rich.

[@scottnaylor2207]

Thank God. Such a lousy personality. I enjoyed Gene Krupa's drumming a lot more than Buddy Rich's.

[@lastort]

Steve Marcus was one hell of a sax player. Played the shit out of that soprano, and was even better on tenor. Incredible.

[@pinguinobc]

Not to mention that very admirable 'fro.

[@martinl.lazarinejr.2781]

you are so right about Steve Marcus. He passed away last year

[@egyptianminor]

He was indeed. One of my all time favorite solos in any instrument is Marcus' fantastic soprano spotlight on Larry Coryell's 'Foreplay', from his 1972 Fusion classic 'Offering'.

[@michaelt4403]

Wow. Buddy was a perfectionist and very tough on his boys. But the result speaks for itself. He was the Bobby Knight of bandleaders.

[@ariaproIIfreak]

I saw Buddy Rich play here in my hometown high school auditorium. will never forget it. He was an awsome act !! No one can replace his talent to carry an audience at a show. Great memories!

[@benetrutenberg7057]

In the summer of 1981, the Buddy Rich band was hired to play a dinner gig in Clinton, IN just a stone's throw from the public pool. The yard was well decorated and a fine dinner was served. It was a little humid and, yes, we have mosquitos. After 2 or 3 songs, Buddy Rich says into the microphone, "Where the fuck am I?" Well Buddy, you weren't in Kansas. A fine time was had by all but the legend of prickdom survived.

[@johnmacarthur1675]

I was fortunate to attend one of these performances when they came to Los Angeles, and played at El Camino JC, with virtually the same line up as this video. I believe it was around 1978 or 9, with my best friend and I attending. Marcus, I learned later was already a force of nature in his own right, before joining BR. He earned standing ovations, one after another. The ride home was silent, mostly due to our jaws hanging near the ground for a while after the show, and not wanting to break the sanctity of the moment. Over thirty five years later, I still remember that concert. It is one of a handful of events I consider unforgettable. Marcus went on to lead the band, and was the obvious candidate to lead after Rich died. Sadly, he too is no longer with us. They live on in the memories of those souls their music touched.

[@agrobeson6471]

This is from 1978. I heard this lineup in Evanston IL @ Amazingrace. Pizza with Noah (bass trbn) at Dué...two other notable NT exes, Greg Smith (bari), Chuck Schmidt (tpt). Check out direct to disc recordings from late '77 ~ Class of '78, and one featuring Mel Torme

[@Rob_Kates]

This was perfection, the pinnacle of big band jazz.

[@nickacelvn]

Amazing. The fact that those drumsticks don't ignite is genuinely incredible.

[@davehunter9]

Wow. Just an incredibly tight band with a very demanding band leader. Pick up on all of the nuances of his interactions with the band; the looks he gave them, driving the tempo... It's fantastic. I love this track.

[@schaddalton2506]

Buddy's left hand was a fucking national treasure.

[@BeatSport88]

His Hihat work is so unbelievable tight.

[@combustbanx]

And at the beginning, he's mostly only using one stick!

[@BeatSport88]

yeah. hes the man

[@MV-ot8kr]

Yet loose as can be . A master .

[@truro007]

Buddy is the best drummer in the world EVER...full stop...no-one like him. He was amazing in 1947!!

[@nreeg1430]

Best version of this great jazz classic ever!

[@gustafsone]

I always thought Maynard's was the gold standard for this song but good lord, these guys tore this song a new butthole. Buddy's hi-hat wizardry is on a level I've never heard anyone else come close to, and as a former sax player myself, Steve's solo was out of this world!

[@JonHop1]

@@gustafsone The original with Jaco is the best by far... Too much horns ruin it for me. Jaco's play and harmonics on the tune are just insane.

[@edpolk1262]

Bass player : Just in case he hasn't already been mentioned - Tommy Warrington

[@ratsalad9401]

that was my next question, what a beast.

[@domokornmusic]

Yes! Brilliant musician, and a graduate of my high school, in fact.

[@bobs8697]

ed polk u

[@lornapresant9238]

I'll check him out,TY,L.Doone

[@martyroth7829]

ed polk Tommy in 83 I think The North Sea Jazz Festival on bass.What a killer Buddy was impressed.

[@TheParalegal56]

Was fortunate enough to see this amazing musician several times. Unforgettable is an understatement. Safe travels Mr. Rich.

[@ricardoguzman114]

Buddy Rich advanced the capabilities of big band as his band entered the 1970s. The sweeping, giant horn sounds, amazing bass, dynamic, loud, tough playing, incredible virtuoso solos by his players, and of course, DRUMS!

[@vegasprowriter]

You've gotta love when practically the entire band becomes a rhythm section!

[@dylangatenby9928]

One of the most well known fusion jazz funk tunes ever recorded by Buddy. Great tune, I believe it's a beautiful chart.

[@JonHop1]

Buddy RIch covered this for an album too? If so that is such an honor for Jaco and Joe at Weather Report. I still will always love the original tho, there is just something about Jaco's playing on the original that is hypnotic.

[@dylangatenby9928]

@@JonHop1 Buddy covered this chart on his album Class of ‘78. Check it out

[@JonHop1]

@@dylangatenby9928 Nicee thanks.. Not a huge Buddy fan, but I will for sure check it out!

[@ericwaley4306]

This is my favourite big band version of this track. The whole album that this came from "Class of '78" is great. Buddy Rich may have been a so and so to work for, but his arrangements were always brilliant and pretty hard to play. Yes, there is always an abundance of drum solos, but it was his band. I once saw him do a 5 minute solo purely on snare and it was magic, so complex and interesting even for a non-drummer.

[@SaxophoneHitman008]

Most of these tunes weren't arranged by Rich. He used arrangers [worked with] to 'make' them his tunes.

[@SaxophoneHitman008]

He wasn't a so and so...he was a nightmare pretty much. I did sound mixing [FOH and MON] for him in '78 when he came to Denver from Vegas. This particular band looks very familiar, BTW. They were great, but were in constant fear of the "wrath of Rich", just as I was! One night the house system failed!! due to fuse blowing in the breaker panel. I had to raise the monitor levels [on a different circuit] drastically to temporarily get House levels to be adequate, while we tracked the problem and fixed it. We did it all within the tune he was currently playing. It was assholes and elbows with flashlights clenched in teeth, for a while....The audience hardly new what had happened, but Buddy about had a heart attack. After the show we had, shall we say, more than a heated moment. But at the end of the day...he actually understood the randomness of the happening and we moved forward with the rest of the shows. But yeah! He does have a temper for sure.

[@Aeader]

Thanks for sharing that story, my heart started beating faster just visualizing that situation! Buddy sounds like the kind of guy who would prefer to do everything himself if only that were possible. Amazing drummer

[@georgejessop9860]

This is my favorite cut as well. I love the way Buddy Rich plays the drums as a part of the whole and not just a time keeper. Buddy liked to assemble his bands with recent graduates of music schools; Berkley in Boston was one of his favorites. Steve Marcus was an old man by comparison with the 'youngsters' in this band. BTW, whenever Buddy was in the Boston area, he would stop in at Leo Carrillo's shop in Providence for a 'refresher' in drumming technique from the master. My brother was a student of Leo's for a few years and became a pretty terrific drummer.

[@agrobeson6471]

​@@georgejessop9860 Sometimes, they dropped out to travel with this great an ensemble...from a three-time dropout.

[@everetteburk9198]

Saw him in 1968 in Iowa City, Ia. Asked for an autograph, had no pen, told me to fin a pin and poke his finger so he could sign his autograph for me. Also, "no dancing, listen to us, we are here to play and entertain you, not for you to dance."

[@FlowerRFabulous]

you whats interesting? I looked up his birthday and it is september 30 if you look up "howstuffworks september 30" click on the howstuffworks website and it matches his personality perfectly!! it says he is a libra who is demanding and critical and very self ecentered. You shoudl really check it out i thought i was interesting

[@jessicaharper6585]

Actually, the bass player is my dad!!!

[@WallaceRoseVincent]

Jessica Harper How Cool! Your daddy is a KZbin star forever!

[@TheMedicalReptile]

That’s super cool! What are his thoughts on Buddy?

[@Kresnov]

Jessica Harper he had some big shoes to fill with Jaco as the benchmark, he's an outstanding bass player very worthy of this piece.

[@MinisterManDan]

Your dad is awesome

[@Rob_Kates]

He does an outstanding job.

[@spookyshark632]

He looks like he's about to say: NOT MY FUCKING TEMPO!

[@Demon_1408]

+Andy Lee haha, im sure you saw Whiplash

[@adamw7826]

+Demon Demon oh yea... people are getting smarter again! just like the old days

[@flamner8774]

He probably is going to, right after they finish

[@zuzankaruza99]

Love it !! Sopran sax is crazy!!!

[@dpwinn7145]

Zuzana Růžičková t

[@duane639]

I saw Buddy and his band do this at Six Flags in Arlington a long time ago right after I got the perfect lemonade from one of the little stands there. That was a great day.

[@grizzlywhisker]

I never get sick of this song, I love this crazy tight fast version.

[@pmishke]

There will never be another Buddy Rich.......priceless

[@Bbmin0rBmaj0r]

sick rhythm section! all the horns are playing so well in unison. everythings right in the pocket

[@adamw7826]

someone mustve sold his battered up hi hat on ebay... just look how many times he rolls on it

[@MarkEKozak]

I've watched this video 100 times. This is 101. Still amazed at everything. Steve Marcus on soprano was one of the best at building his solos. Tom Worrington on bass, yowza.

[@johnnymoondog9474]

Of course Jaco is the GOAT but Tom Worrington crushes this!

[@dangdickinson823]

Buddy seemed to kinda enjoy the solo of his soprano sax player. He almost smiled!

[@paullevine1813]

Saw Buddy in 1969 at The Atlantic City Pop Fest , his performance was stunning . Saw him a year later at The Famous Ballroom in Baltimore MD. Again he was outstanding & all business . He joked a bit here & there & was appreciated by all that came to see him & the band. There really are no best ever musicians but if there was Buddy would be there.

[@agrobeson6471]

Props to Famous Ballroom!

[@leonardohummel8658]

*Truly amazing sax solo starts at **2:30**.* you'll never hear it done better.

[@ibanez-kaz]

Steve Marcus!

[@robertmorris2056]

Saw Buddy in 1978(?) with probably just about this band. They turned Steve Marcus loose on an extended solo and this HS saxophonist was absolutely stupefied.

[@beagle0811]

It is a shame that all of you younger fans never got to see Buddy on Johnny Carson's show. His acerbic wit was as fast as his drumming. A wild and crazy guy with unbelievable talent.

[@TheTemplesofSyrinx1]

Carolyn Spilly The Buddy/Ed Shaughnessy drum battles on Carson Show were legendary.

[@JazzKeyboardist1]

+TheTemplesofSyrinx1 ......But Ed wanted people to like him, While Buddy didn't care?

[@layoy7612]

When I hear this, so many memories come to me because we played this in our big band years ago.

[@giuseppegaribaldi6457]

tighter than a 28 inch pants on a 35 inch waist!!

[@bRadicalmagic1]

! well put ! ! !

[@giuseppegaribaldi6457]

:)

[@snivelinj7612]

Ohhh Buddy demanded it or there would be literal hell to pay,

[@giuseppegaribaldi6457]

no kidding...what was the fine? $$$$$or down to the dungeon!!

[@colinmcmahon5829]

giuseppe Garibaldi Dont chose Black Shirts for Band Uniform again. Nit if its Sunshine you'll be performing in. Just a suggestion. You never know what Ringer theyve been run through during Import.

[@nathleflutiste]

I love play it on recorder when I'm listenning it. One of the greatest music I ever heard.

[@johnwiseman17]

I like how they used the trumpets to do the usual Jaco artificial harmonic thing. They didn't even try to replicate that with substandard copies of a technique often copied but never mastered. This may be the single best cover of this WR classic ever performed.

[@kilbo98]

Check out Maynard Fergusons version, he has a trombone play it

[@WilliamSlaght]

John Wiseman Normally that's what bands do I feel. Change it up. Work with what they got.

[@brianchisnell1548]

Saw these cats many times live. Monster band. Nobody could touch them.

[@rayszymarek2920]

No matter what and what ever is said about drummers. There was one drummer you could not compare. Buddy Rich like the story was told by Louie Bellson Gene Krupa and Joe Jones. There were many drummers out there and then there was BUDDY RICH. no one could come close to his technical abilities his IDEAS and the way he played a drum set. The Legend The Measuring Stick and Holy Grail of drummers. BUDDY RICH no one out there way back when and even today NO ONE and I mean NO ONE can come close to Buddy Rich enough said.

[@drcatslapper5008]

Brilliant stuff. The bass player is grooving his ass off. Loved it all.

[@Jombo56]

As much as I love the guy and his music, I would've hated to be in his band.

[@larrysmith6797]

And the band would have hated playing with you.

[@Rob_Kates]

He demanded perfection.

[@dangold921]

@@Rob_Kates True, but he also urged his players to have fun.

[@ScottLindenOutdoors]

"Perfection is unattainable; but in pursuit of perfection you CAN attain excellence." Vince Lombardi, channeling Buddy Rich.

[@247hdjazz]

THAT'S WHY I NEVER PLAYED WITH HIM!

[@oussamamarouf2923]

Times when musicians looks like scientists... The level of talent here is just dangerously high

[@kunstprodukt]

4:18 Hittin' that wood block like it was buddy's face....

[@flamerunner_anix]

He plays so effortlessly in this clip its absolutely insane for how fast he's playing

[@jazzmusictheorist]

Finally! A soprano solo that isn't smooth jazz!

[@paulwickline7434]

Marcus' solo is incredible... a jazz-fusion GOD (RIP)....

[@TheRealOfficialGator]

That soprano solo though

[@jeremiahluntsford4087]

The Gatorboy to be in the office tomorrow

[@ajbfwb]

...if only there wasn't the hideous distraction of a bad case of "Bozo head". :-)

[@MARKMANIATT]

I was also at the great Davenport Theatre,Stockport to see Buddy and the band.Also the Louie Bellson Band plus Louie's afternoon drum clinic.Great memories!Buddy at the Crucible Theatre,Sheffield.Unbelievable!!!

[@benparrishproductions7576]

Who is the bass player? He is totally killing it this whole song.

[@punkrockadict619]

+Octavian Of Rome not like jaco tho

[@benparrishproductions7576]

true

[@ruklick]

totally reminded me of Jaco. Fretless before Jaco "invented" it. Still, Jaco was the best. It's sad, music is no longer. Now days we get little wayne, brittnany spears and what ever puffy shoves down our throats. Justin Biber is king

[@punkrockadict619]

Well the bassist was probably trying to go for that Jaco sound... Since they are covering a weather report song.

[@adamw7826]

who is the drummer

[@PaulSmith-tt2cy]

One of the greatest drummers that ever existed

[@senseidekkers5618]

You see how Buddy Rich didn't give the bass player any attention at all? That's what I love about being a bass player. While everyone is getting yelled at all the time, the bass player gets left alone.

[@senseidekkers5618]

Fuck man that's hard. This guy stuck with Buddy for a while though. From what I have heard they grew close. Kinda crazy to think that Buddy could actually like someone.

[@mariasmyles]

Can you imagine being Buddy's bass player!?!? There can't be a more daunting audition than that!

[@comeacross9]

I was a drummer in a weekend/wedding band for many,many years and I will tell there is nothing better than playing with a solid bass player. Made my job fun and set the whole group in motion.

[@bhakti235]

lovin all the 70's 'staches

[@Childers_Kustoms]

Sorry, but Buddy rich and this band, they may be good, but you know what. Music is about SOUL and about FUN. And THAT is what Maynard gave each band he played with. A whole hell of a lot of fun!

[@DannyDevitoe]

Fucking furry

[@alexbouffler8577]

@@DannyDevitoe lmao

[@ronaldunkel2681]

Noble Wulff I happen to agree Noble. Perfect timing and technical aptitude aside. Indeed Maynard was fun. But give me the Basie band anytime, with it’s implacable (tight) rhythm section and purely soul-driven solo’s. Cheers!

[@jamesdrynan]

Obviously Buddy liked to hear the bass player! I had the good fortune of playing at a club called the Coal Bin in downtown Toronto in 1970. The back door emptied out onto the parking lot of The Royal York Hotel which housed The Imperial Room. On our break, we would scoot over there and catch the band that week. We saw Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich and Ella's Fitzgerald the month we played at the Coal Bin.

[@robertparkes4982]

No drummer comes close, saw him twice at the davenport theatre Stockport when I was a drummer myself..........

[@Blubai67]

I saw those same two shows at the Davenport as well. I was just a schoolkid at the time, taken along by my jazz loving Dad, but the memory of those two concerts have stayed with me all my life.

[@djangorheinhardt]

me too.Did you join the line to meet him after?He was signing autographs but i did not have a book so i just shook hands with him.He went in Barratts music shop years ago,when he was at the Free Trade Hall and bought a few sticks.The Barratts staff did not know his pedigree so they were unfazed by him.

[@kathrynremington2486]

Did you ever see Roy Tomkins at the Alma Lodge? Looked similar with that droopy hound dog look, and boy could he play!

[@ianpeters9974]

Absolutely metronomic. Mesmerising!

[@thelastrodesian]

Music for my ears!

[@tuxguys]

Where do I begin? First... It's a performance/arrangement like this that makes me think that what the Symphony Orchestra was to European Classical Composers, the Big Band became, and continues to be, to American (and American-inspired) Composer/Arrangers. Second... The Rich Band, perhaps the ultimate Big Band, does (Berklee grad) Joe Zawinul's Fusion masterpiece. Third... Longtime Rich sideman, the redoubtable Steve Marcus, takes an absolutely blistering soprano sax solo, showing Kenny G what he could do if only he put in somewhat more practice, and had a sh*tload more soul, during which, at 2:30, serious Funk happens, as the entire band becomes an enormous percussion section. Fourth... The bass-player, standing in the shoes of Jaco Pastorius, is brilliant. Fifth... I've seen him live twice, and in numerous films, talk shows, etc., and I can attest to the fact that Buddy Rich NEVER gives more than 110%, as he does here. (Personal note: When I graduated from the Hogwarts of Music, in Boston, in 1980, the two recipients of honorary doctorates that weekend were the newly-appointed successor to the recently-deceased Arthur Fiedler as director of the Boston Pops, film composer John Williams, and Buddy Rich. Williams handed me my diploma, and I said to him, "A privilege, sir;" when Rich then shook my hand, I said, "An honor, sir," to which he replied, "It's an honor for me, too.")

[@snivelinj7612]

This is big band jazz at it's best !!!

[@antonellopetti5039]

Stupendi! Arrivare a suonare ed studiare a questo livello. Si che la scuola la musica decollerebbe !

[@LyleStacpoole]

the Roman Galley commander said "we've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is we get extra rations tomorrow - the bad news is we got Buddy Rich on drums today!"

[@jeffreyedwards609]

Very good.

[@davecotterell9462]

My old astronomy buddy on soprano and alto sax, (middle of the 5 sax guys) just a great section player and a fine soloist in his own right - Chuck Wilson. Sadly, Chuck passed away a few months ago.... Clear skies, chuck!!

[@izzzDelta]

God I would hate being in the this band with passion, Rich is staring down the bones 90% of the time. Example of a perfectionist a little too worried about being perfect. Now the skill is another topic but c'mon, the audience in almost all places (ruling out judges) could care less and most likely not even hear imperfections. Buddy Rich may more strict than classical conductors...

[@tommonfron5166]

izzzDelta yeah, jazz takes more skill than classical.

[@starmanovich]

Its part of the act. Even if its real.

[@dnarbredlih]

@@tommonfron5166 Moronic statement. The kind that can only be made in ignorance.

[@jimhines5825]

too worried about being perfect? ya can't be...I never wanted anything less!

[@paullevine1813]

izzz, You have to be more than good to be in that or any of Buddy's Bands & I seriously doubt you are. James Brown was as hard a task master towards his band & even fined them if they missed a note & as Buddy he's a legend. Benny Goodman was the same way. Still they knew just what was expected from them & they wanted to be in a band that great.

[@rmdrummer87]

Got this on DVD. Watch it everyday. The band is playing there best and Buddy, just simply amazing.

[@seththomas942]

I'm a death metal fan and I love this.

[@mariasmyles]

The nerdy guy with the tache and specs stood at the back takes the award for unsung bass hero of the century.

[@calfor1991]

The grumpiest drummer ever.

[@NaNa-wj8tw]

calfor1991 Hahahaha. The best that ever lived though. I can forgive him the grumps:)

[@andysummers3676]

Wow, just watched this again. Mr Rich is legendary here, the sax solo was amazing but the bass got me. I could feel Jaco in every note, great vibe

[@tl124]

Holy crap.... He suddenly took the tempo up (or back up..?) into the stratosphere at 6:18...

[@auburnboi09]

He did. Actually sounded like the band wasn't keeping up with HIS tempo.

[@stephenlittle4044]

Actually the tempo is rock steady with a little blip in that spot. There are many moods in this arrangement and anyone who has ever played in a band with arrangements this involved know that this kind of thing happens all the time. He may have deliberately just put an edge on it at that point. It comes out of an awkward transition from a syncopated bass lick. Actually it sounds to me like the bass may have slightly rushed the lick. None of us are metronomes and we should not listen and evaluate as though we were. All and all it is a great performance. My opinion Steve Little.

[@baminjhan6044]

My new favourite drummer! Seriously! Your the coolest drummer i have ever seen!

[@bkg2063]

no one looks happy they look like they've been enslaved by the drummer for year's with no hope of living anymore.

[@Playthellgb42]

THAT'S A REALLY FUNNY OBSERVATION!!! HILARIOUSLY AND VERY INSIGHTFUL!!!!

[@bobwonderhem9715]

They could play anywhere they want - just like you, me,.. anybody... anybody... anybody (Blues Brothers 1980.) They loved it even though they made scale- plus about 50 per diem. sending 200 home a week isn't enough, but playing every night with Buddy Is Enough.

[@jamescareless159]

A good way to die!

[@pazgabriel]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@kahjazz]

Just the BEST of the BEST! Very tight.

[@milesbarnes7608]

2:25 funky

[@rtanidean4931]

Bad to the bone mastery from Buddy. RIP drumming HERO. Whoa & wow. Mr swing like no other. Period.

[@giygas7392]

Needs more auxiliary percussion.

[@joshbonham8768]

I thought he was gonna start tossing maracas and wood blocks into the audience.

[@giygas7392]

+Josh Bonham Know what the funniest name for an instrument is? Vibraslap.

[@joshbonham8768]

+GG Allin For real! And a good one that can rattle for a really long time is super fun!

[@joshbonham8768]

+stephen dwyer And let that be a lesson to em ay?

[@giygas7392]

+Josh Bonham At a school band concert last fall, I played auxiliary for a few songs in addition to the song I drummed on and I had the honor of playing vibraslap on Edgar Winters' "Frankenstein". Very satisfying experience.

[@samdanner6244]

I agree. With you Mate!!!!! This band is very very Tight. From Brisbane Queensland, Australia.

[@dangdickinson823]

Performance seems a bit rushed to me. The original version by Weather Report is at 156 bpm. Whereas Buddy takes it at about 198 bpm (though it slows to a more comfortable 190 bpm for the sax solo).

[@gracecoomb1872]

Astounding rendition of onme of my favorite songs. i saw BR and the Big Band do this at The Bottom Line in NYC, and it blew us all away. But i am reminded that at that performance, as in this one, not a single smile EVER from BR or any member of the band. Almost like enjoying or getting into it was forbidden. Weird. But love the sound!!!

[@SaxMan426]

Video description: “Check out the solo by Steve Marcus” Updated Video Description: “Check out the beautiful Afro on the head of Steve Marcus”

[@Joshualbm]

Nice groove and I love how the brass section all turn into the percussion section. Nice arrangement. Steve Marcus kills it!

[@bRadicalmagic1]

Buddy, please come back from the grave. I need some drum lessons from YOU ! ! !

[@DylanEichenbergTahoe]

SO freakin awesome, did this one in high school jazz band, amazing to see the professionals do this number. I totally love it.

[@dishanabeysinghe1975]

Bass Player looks like John Cleese from Fawlty Towers :P

[@lividphysics1237]

That bass trombonist is having a hell of a time with his wooden block!

[@PTLux2]

When I was a kid living in California I saw him perform live many times at Disneyland. He was the greatest inspiration. We still love you Buddy. Check out my tributes to him on here (a few short drum solos of mine). To all the rock drummers out there, don’t lose touch with the past. There are many things to learn from the rich heritage all those jazz drummers left us “back in the day”. Richard Gray

[@lilblackduc7312]

This IS 'Rich'!!! The man worries-the-hell out of every piece of drum kit..and..he actually remembers Birdland, he was there!😎👍☕

[@UnintendedColours]

Needs more cowbell.

[@flamner8774]

I gotta fever, baby and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL

[@Tomatohater64]

Sarah Holly Camm I think three cowbells and perhaps a lyre?

[@bobbydale1938]

Idiot !!

[@fosterchild4523]

Dang! That was pretty amazing! And buddy's kick drum is just right in the pocket.