Drum Solos

[My Alter Ego]

Aren't you too young to know Buddy Rich? I've heard 'of' him but couldn't name anything off the top of my head

How about Buddy Rich with The Muppet Show's resident drummer?


My knowledge of rock is much better than my knowledge of Jazz. I think Steely Dan is my 'jazziest' favorite band.


Wow

Wow is right! There are many things that I noticed about this amazing solo! First, the way he's holding the stick in his left hand. I recently noticed that most drummers these days hold both sticks the same way --a grab over the top. (I'm guessing that most of them are self taught.) But that doesn't allow the stick to bounce (off the drum head) well or quickly. When the stick is held the way Rich has got it (in his left hand), it can bounce and he can, as quickly as it bounces, send it back down with a flick of his thumb and forefinger. Notice those sticks are a blur.

The second thing that I noticed is the way he's dressed. Tux, vest, long sleeved shirt, bow tie. My recollection from seeing him on talk shows and variety shows (way back then), is that he typically wore turtleneck sweaters and blazers. (He seemed to be rather meticulous in his public appearances.) Yes, I understand how the era was different and it would have been considered highly disrespectful to one's audience to appear in the more laid back manner that bands now dress.

But drumming, particularly at the level the late, great Buddy Rich demonstrated, is a major workout (go back and watch the clip Tusk posted if you need your memory refreshed). He's wearing 3 layers (shirt, vest, tux). Not only do I think of the heat that must have produced, but also how confining it could be (to a drummer). He must have had an extraordinary tailor!

All that said, when asked who he thought were really good drummers, the late, great Buddy Rich used to mention Danny Seraphine, one of the original members of the group Chicago (during their Terry Kath days, not the post Kath = "syruppy" Chicago.) There is a percussive section in one of the songs on their first album (I think it might be "I'm a Man" although not sure), that was quite spectacular.