DRUMMER CAFE

OK.
Enough is Enough.
I am going to end this right now.
This video shows Buddy in a battle with one of the most repected and revered drummers of the last 30 years and kicking his butt.

If any of ya'll has anything to say after watching this, save it. It just...won't.... matter.
 
-RH

I love this thread! I'm glad someone resurrected it!

I did get to see Buddy Rich live in the 70's (I'm older than KevinD) and saw him on TV many times. My thoughts echo Mr A's.

Music is an art form, and therfore "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

That being said, my thoughts are: Buddy Rich's combination of speed, musicality, and DYNAMICS (are dynamics a dying art form?) made him, ARGUABLY the best. IMO

I have seen Dennis Chambers (on video only) and would think he could win a strictly speed battle against Buddy, however he just doesn't seem to have the feel. My theory is that swing is such a nuance laden feel that some people can feel and hear (almost like when you move to a differnt location and everyone around you is still speaking english but it sounds different due to the accent) that someone like Dennis Chambers can play (speak) it,but you can still tell he grew up somewhere else. Like on the video that has Dennis Chambers, Phil Collins and Steve Smith: my opinion is that Steve Smith came the closest to "speaking" "Buddy" than the other two.   FWIW

While in college,  I was very excited at the prospect of going to see Buddy Rich at the famous Rush Street nightclub (DaveFrom Chicago, help me with the name).  I arrived early to get a good seat and eagerly waited to be dazzled by the master.  The set began but the band just didn't cook; Buddy was scowling and verbally abusing the band.  In the second or third song, he began a somewhat uninspired drum solo (very rare!) and then just stopped abruptly, put down his sticks, took the microphone and complained about Richard
Nixon's politics, and then walked off the stage.  I was stunned.  I sat there in disbelief just hoping he would return, but my night ended early!  Outside of the club, I ran into John LaBarbera  (Joe's brother), the tenor sax player, who just shrugged and said, "yeah, that's the way Buddy is some nights."

Adam's Dad

Hi Guys...new to this site. But saw this thread and had to get on. I played trombone in bands with both Louie Bellson and Buddy Rich...Louie more so than Buddy. If there are doubters, you can go to my pics page on my website thsmith.com, and you will see me conducting Louie. For those who don't think that picture is clear enough, go down to the bottom of the page and you will see him posing with my father and I at a jazz festival in our tuxes. Everyone has their instruments in their hands meaning that this is no fan shot. I am not trying to push anything. But as you know any crazy person can say they played with somebody. I have also either contracted or played with most of the major jazz drummers of my generation (and some rockers too Kenny A. etc).

Without a doubt Buddy and Louie were the best of the lot by a very wide margin with Buddy excelling by probably 20% over Louie. And yes, you really can say who was the best. Just get up there and find out for yourself. Only two musicians ever made my hair stand up on stage and it was these two guys...and in the case of Buddy it happened every single time. I never understand this thought about how there really is not someone who is better than others...this apples and oranges business. This stuff about Buddy being just a big band drummer only etc...is wrong. Buddy could do anything that came to his or anyone els's head...PERIOD. I have no doubt that he was the most technically proficient drummer of the 20th century, and those who say "well this guy had more taste etc" are simply not in the know. Even Louie (who I dearly love) claims subserviance to Buddy's talent. Now this is not to say that Buddy Rich was not as mean as a snake. He was self centered and cruel. It's all true. You were always on edge when you played with him. Louie on the other hand remains a saint among men and the better all around musician, being that he can also compose on a very high level, whereas Buddy could only read a little. The way it worked was when a new arrangement came to the band, the drum setup man would read down the chart with the rest of the band while Buddy just sat in the back and listened. Five minutes later Buddy would assume his throne and play the chart down, only much, much better...and some of those setup guys were world class drummers.

This argument about Buddy's talent was going on when I was a kid too (47 now), and was just as wrong then as it is now. Ask most of your heroes who they bow to. Buddy always rises to the top of the list.

Thanks for letting me have my say. I like reading your comments.

Buddy Rich was to drumming  is like what Jimi Hendrix was to guitar.  If he were alive today he would still be light years ahead of all the others.  I love to see and hear him ,but everytime I do it just makes me think how I will never be that good.

the thing about buddy is that he amkes the drumming look so simple, and you try it and you go, "What?" Neil Peart does that also. Buddy Rich makes you have to listen or else you miss the point. so, the next time you watch a video, really look.

Easy there Trips!!

Just cuz I Buddy live shouldn't make you so mad.

(Oh yeah, I also got to sit with him on his tour bus, chat a while, and get his autograph.  IN YOUR FACE!!   )

Let's start with speed.  Buddy was without a doubt faster than Donati.  I've seen Donati solo in a music store.  Buddy was easily faster.  Donati's thing is complex playing between the limbs and double bass workout.  It sounds like "worked out" math problems.  Comparing him to Buddy is apple to oranges but Buddy would easily prevail in a drum battle.  Buddy was smoother, faster, and it didn't sound like he was playing a prepared, robotic solo.