There's an age-old argument among drummers that, thankfully, I haven't heard much lately. It goes roughly like this:
"Buddy Rich is the best drummer that ever lived!"
"Dude, no way ...."
The argument is usually over very quickly as it's customary for one or both parties to not have sufficient facts to make a case.
What, then, are the criticisms leveled at Buddy and what are the facts? Let's see ...
He over plays
First of all, what does it mean to over play? Seems to me, a lot of great players -- Moonie, Travis, Tony, Neil -- might be said to over play by any definition of that term. Buddy might say, “If you got it, flaunt it!”
He plays too loud
Buddy was a great small combo and brush player, and there are plenty of examples on record of his tasteful and reserved accompaniment. Check out his recordings with the Lester Young/Buddy Rich Trio. Of course Buddy's first love was big band, and those bands require power. Buddy would drive the band relentlessly by being full-on all the time. Besides, it was his damn band!
His solos aren't that interesting
Nor are anyone else's much of the time. All soloists fall back on stock licks, phrases, habits, and filler to keep things going -- just how long can one be expected to be brilliantly creative? But between the clichés and stock licks, Buddy's solos featured lots of stellar ideas, and were always in keeping with the music. And always great entertainment.
He didn't swing
Oh really? Buddy practically invented swing, having learned from watching such greats as Chick Webb, Sid Catlett and others. In today's sense of 'deep pocket', perhaps not, but behind a jazz soloist, Buddy's groove was exquisite in any context, and a great example of pocket.
He couldn't read music
This always confused me. Why would a person as obviously gifted and intelligent as Buddy not learn to read when reading drum music is relatively easy? Probably because what Buddy had was better*. I also suspect that he may have claimed to not read just to annoy the critics.
He had 'attitude'
Ya. So do I! So do a lot of people. Buddy was never slow to voice his displeasure, but that's not at all unusual for someone who functions at so high a level. And yet the people he allegedly abused have nothing but praise for the man, his support, and his generosity.
“The best ever” or not, Buddy was certainly one of the greats, and definitely one of a kind. And your drum education is not complete if you have not studied his music and his legacy.
* In his biography of Buddy, Mel Tormé writes that Buddy listened to the arrangement of West Side Story Medley three times, then picked up his sticks and played it flawlessly.
Inspired by:
“Buddy Rich One Of A Kind” by Pelle Berglund
Foreword by Max Weinberg
Hardcover ?:? 360 pages
ISBN-10 ?:? 1540064239
ISBN-13 ?:? 978-1540064233
https://hudsonmusic.com/product/buddy-rich-one-of-a-kind/
Also check out:
Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich
Rebeats Press
ISBN-10: 1888408030
ISBN-13: 9781888408034
Buddy Rich Jazz Legend Documentary
Part 1, 1917-1970 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoFAiiHMhDA
Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg15mruZDzY&list=RDXoFAiiHMhDA&start_radio=1
Lost Tapes
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Tapes-Buddy-Rich/dp/B077V4JYBV
https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Buddy-Rich-THE-LOST-TAPES-Now-Available-On-CD-and-Vinyl-LP-20180209
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