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Buddy Rich: Birdland
ByIn 1977 Weather Report's commercially successful "Birdland," (Heavy Weather, Columbia Records), composed by keyboardist Joe Zawinul became a popular jazz fusion piece and shortly thereafter became a trendy cover tune for big bands. In the not too distant future, jazz renditions of this comp sort of wore out its welcome, evidenced by the business as usual routine of hornists' blaring spin on the catchy theme and correlating big band music with Weather Report's jazz fusion syntax. After awhile certain covers become overly formulaic or reek with an air of predictability. Hence, Rich and associates pretty much traverse the same path, along with Tom Warrington or Jon Burr's assimilation of Jaco Pastorius' patented bass riff. Otherwise, the recording quality---despite some compression is satisfactory, as Rich is the driving force behind a powerful arrangement of "Milestones" and the other tracks, largely packed with sizzling horn solos and up- tempo swing grooves.
Rich doesn't dominate the album with an endless string of solos, yet fills in the gaps with his customary flawless precision and blinding speed. A young Bob Mintzer (tenor sax) and longtime Rich band-mate Steve Marcus (soprano sax) go on a tear during the band's snazzy arrangement of John Coltrane's "Moments Notice," much to the audience's delight. Here, trumpeter Ross Konikoff soars skyward; whereas, Rich trades pungent fours with pianist Barry Keiner Rich on the standard, "I Hear A Rhapsody." And Marcus' executes a passionate whirlwind solo atop a high-impact Latin jazz vamp with bursting horns on "Three Day Suckers." In sum, Birdland is a commendable release, and like other decades-old Rich albums, should be deemed required listening for just about any aspiring drummer on the planet.
Track Listing
Mexicali Rose; Birdland; Milestones; Just Friends; CTA; God Bless The Child; Moments Notice; I Hear A Rhapsody; Three Day Suckers; Parthenia; Keep The Customer Satisfied.
Personnel
Buddy Rich
drumsAlan Gauvin
saxophone, altoBill Blount
saxophone, altoFrank Basile
saxophone, baritoneBob Mintzer
saxophoneChuck WIlson
tromboneJon Burr
bass, acousticTom Warrington
bassBarry Keiner
pianoWaymon Reed
trumpetJohn Marshall
drumsRoss Konikoff
trumpetDean Pratt
trumpetDave Stahl
trumpetDavid Boyle
tromboneDale Kirkland
tromboneRick Stepton
tromboneTurk Mauro
saxophone, baritoneJohn Mosca
tromboneClint Charmin
tromboneChuck Schmidt replaces Dave Stahl (1,7,10,11); Ed Eby replaces Dave Boyle (1,7,10,11); Bob Kaye replaces Barry Keiner (10); Jim Pritchard replaces Turk Mauro (1,7,10,11); Gary Pribek replaces Bob Mintzer on all but (7); Dave Kennedy replaces Ross Konikoff or Jon Marshall (1,7,10,11).
Album information
Title: Birdland | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Lobitos Creek Ranch
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