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BUDDY RICH
The Roar Of '74
1974
256+ VBR LAME mp3
Vinyl rip & scans from Groove Merchant GM 528
Some big band bang for El Goog's new Groovy Merchant blog. Not much more to say on Buddy, what with him probably being the best-known drummer of the 20th Century. I hadn't seen this elsewhere when I originally threw it onto the "to do" pile a couple months ago but now, just before posting, I noticed the intrepid Simon had indeed found one on the blogosphere. However, that was a CD rip while this is taken from the original vinyl with the usual scans and tags you can expect in a Soundological package.
Lots of heavyweights on this one, especially in the rhythm section where King Crimson's Tony "Chapman Stickler" Levin is on bass side-by-side with jazz giant Joe Beck on guitar. Buddy's supported on beats by Duke Ellington drummer Sam Woodyard (who appeared most recently at Soundological on last month's Milt Buckner & Marcel Zanini post) and 70s session stalwart Jimmy Maeulen, both handling percussion duties.
AMG Review
by Scott Yanow
In late 1973, the Buddy Rich big band still featured the explosive drummer in prime, competitive form. The orchestra's key soloist during the era was Pat LaBarbera (doubling on tenor and soprano); guitarist Joe Beck also has a spot on "Big Mac." The charts (by Ernie Wilkins, John LaBarbera, Manny Albam, Greg Hopkins and Don Menza) for this album emphasize hard-driving swing, with the highlights including "Nuttville," "Senator Sam" and Menza's memorable "Time Check."
Buddy Rich - Drums
Charlie Davis - Trumpet
Larry Hall - Trumpet
Greg Hopkins - Trumpet (1)
John Hoffman - Trumpet (2)
Joe Romano - Alto Sax
Bob Martin - Alto Sax
Pat La Barbera - Tenor Sax (1,2,4,5,8) Soprano Sax (3,7)
Bob Crea - Tenor Sax (3,4,8)
John Laws - Baritone Sax
Al Kaplan - Trombone (8)
Keith O'Quinn - Trombone (2,8)
John Leys - Bass Trombone
Buddy Budson - Piano (1,6,7)
Joe Beck - Guitar (3)
Tony Levin - Bass
Jimmy Maeulen - Conga
Sam Woodyard - Percussion
Solo credits listed in brackets by track numbers
1 Nuttville
2 Kilimanjaro Cookout
3 Big Mac
4 Backwoods Sideman
5 Time Check
6 Prelude To A Kiss
7 Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters
8 Senator Sam
Seeking that electric 70s swing sound? Soundological supplies it HERE or HERE.
Byron "The Dragon" Lee
Just heard the unfortunate news that yet another musical giant, the incredibly influential Byron Lee, has fallen this week at the age of 74. We're big fans of the man and his band and recently ran a lengthy post on Mr. Lee, so we're sad to see him leave us. However, his battle with cancer was a public one and though this loss is another blow to music lovers around the world, it does not come as a surprise. In fact, the bulk of recent interviews with "The Dragon" speak volumes about the courage and spirit with which he met his final challenge - the word "indomitable" definitely applies. He lived his life to its fullest right up to the end and leaves a legacy of music that has pleased untold millions over the last 40 years and will likely continue to do so for generations to come.
For a full rundown of his bio, check out his website (now back online) or the earlier post at Soundological mentioned above, which also includes a comprehensive discography with links.
Thanks for all the love you've shown the world over the years, Byron. Our thoughts and wishes are with you and your extended family as you sail onward to new shores. Selah.
Boomp3.comBoomp3.comJOE SAMPLE
The Three
1976
61.8 MB
256+ VBR LAME mp3
Vinyl rip & scans from East Wind EW-10001
Stickin' with ticklers of ivory caught on direct-to-disc format, here's the original East Wind pressing of this trio session headed up by the Jazz Crusader. Referred to as "a milestone" in his wiki, this is first of the three sets of takes from that night. The CD reissue also includes a second set but the third has yet to surface. I'll let AMG & DG take it from there...
AMG Review by Scott Yanow
This Japanese East Wind LP (which was made available domestically on the now-defunct Inner City label) features pianist Joe Sample, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne exploring five jazz standards plus Sample's "Funky Blues" in purely straight-ahead fashion. One of Joe Sample's finest sessions as a leader, this obscure outing is highlighted by his renditions of Oliver Nelson's "Yearnin'," "On Green Dolphin Street" and "Manha Do Carnaval."
****/*
Dusty Groove review
One of the most successful Japanese piano trio recordings of the 70s -- a super-session performed by a a trio of Americans that includes Joe Sample on acoustic piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums! Given that Sample's best known during the era for his electric keys with the Crusaders (and on countless studio sessions), it's a real treat to hear him tickle the ivories in an acoustic way -- and a genuine surprise to hear how strong his work is in such a format.
Joe manages to swing the tunes with plenty of creative improvisation, but also keeps a strong focus on the groove too -- making for an album that's got some of the rhythmic flourishes of the best work of the Oscar Peterson trio in later years, but with some of the added freedoms of the Japanese scene and a tight swinging sound that's very much in the soul jazz tradition of the LA scene that spawned all three players.
Joe Sample - Piano
Ray Brown - Bass
Shelly Manne - Drums
1 Yearnin'
2 On Green Dolphin Street
3 Satin Doll
4 Mañha de Carnaval
5 'Round About Midnight
6 Funky Blues
Get your sampling of Sample from Soundological HERE or HERE.
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