Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Buddy Rich: Keep The Customer Satisfied

Buddy Rich: Keep The Customer Satisfied

By John Sharpe
March 1, 2001
Sign in to view read count

In the late sixties drum virtuoso Buddy Rich recorded a series of albums for Liberty/Pacific Jazz that most critics agree were the best of his career. Keep The Customer Satisfied captures Rich, an admitted showoff, performing live before an enthusiastic audience at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. Of the original seven tracks, only one (the epic, eleven-minute Midnight Cowboy Medley ) was recorded in a Los Angeles studio. At the time of this recording, Toronto resident Pat LaBarbara was a prominent member of the band and his frequent tenor solos are most impressive. In addition, the album features solid contributions from Rick Stepton (trombone), Richie Cole (alto) and George Zonce (trumpet). The arrangements, particularly those of Don Piestrup and Bill Holman, are custom tailored to showcase Rich’s relentless drive and his band’s brassy exuberance. Keep The Customer Satisfied includes six previously unissued bonus tracks that, while of interest to Rich completists, don’t really measure up to the original seven chosen. Hot and very satisfying! ####

Track Listing

Keep the Customer Satisfied, Long Day's Journey, Midnight Cowboy Medley, Celebration, Groovin' Hard, The Juicer is Wild, Winning the West, Body and Soul, Happy Time, The Nitty Gritty, Straight and Narrow, Groovin' Hard (alternate take), Cornerstone

Personnel

Buddy Rich

drums

Joe Giorgiani, John Madrid, Mike Price, George Zonce, trumpet; Rick Stepton, Tony Lada, trombone; Larry Fisher, bass trombone; Jimmy Mosher, Richie Cole, flute, alto sax; Pat LaBarbara, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute; Don Englert, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute; Bob Suchoski, baritone sax; Mickey McClain, piano, organ; Rick Laird, electric bass; Buddy Rich, drums

Album information

Title: Keep the Customer Satisfied | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Capitol Records

< Previous
Carla Cook: Just a Swingin' and a Gro...

Next >
Skyful of Bliss

Comments

About Buddy Rich

Instrument: Drums

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.