Buddy Rich - Mr. Drums: The Buddy Rich Collection 1946-55 (CD)

Jazz drummer Buddy Rich is famous as one of the most extrovert and impressive instrumentalists of his day, known for his virtuoso technique, power and speed, and one of the most influential drummers in the genre. Born in 1917, the son of a vaudevillian couple, he was immersed in the drums from a very early age, as well as being a singer and tap dancer. Having played with Artie Shaw, Bunny Berigan and Tommy Dorsey from the late 1930s, he served in WWII, he was with Dorsey until Frank Sinatra helped finance Rich to form his own orchestra in 1946. This 59-track 3-CD set comprises most of his studio recordings with his own band through 1946-47 for Mercury and on V-Disc, plus selected recordings through to 1955 with his own groups and with bands and small groups led by Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, Count Basie, Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge and Harry James, variously appearing on the Mercury, Clef, Norgran, Verve, Pablo and Columbia labels. It features performances alongside many notable musicians of the era, including Nat King Cole, Buck Clayton, Hank Jones, Clark Terry, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Benny Carter, Barney Kessel, Buddy de Franco, Herb Ellis, Ben Webster, Art Tatum, Illinois Jacquet and many more. Featuring Rich performing in a variety of musical environments, including some of Buddy's vocal outings, it's an entertaining showcase for his legendary versatility and prowess.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Quiet Riot
2. A Little Handicap
3. Dateless Brown
4. You Got Me Crying Again
5. Desperate Desmond
6. It Couldn't Be True
7. Quiet Riot
8. Baby, Baby All the Time
9. Route 66
10. The Iggidy Song
11. It's About Time
12. Ready to Go Steady
13. Rich-Ual Dance
14. Oop Bop Sh'bam
15. Nellie's Nightmare
16. Daily Double
17. What Is This Thing Called Love ?
18. I Believe
19. Just You, Just Me
20. A Man Could Be a Wonderful Thing
21. Four Rich Brothers [Four Brothers]

Disc: 2

1. The Carioca
2. Star Eyes
3. Blues (Fast)
4. Lover
5. Flip's Boogie
6. Neal's Deal
7. The Golden Bullet
8. Hallelujah
9. Tea for Two
10. Bloomdido
11. Leap Frog
12. Blue Lou
13. Bebe
14. Bright Blues
15. After You've Gone
16. Lady Be Good
17. Count's Organ Blues
18. The Carioca
19. Take the "A" Train
20. Lady Be Good
21. Palladium Party
22. Airmail Special

Disc: 3

1. How High the Moon
2. Hernando's Hideaway
3. Sweets' Opus No. 1
4. Bongos, Bass and Guitar
5. That's Rich [Strike It Rich]
6. Sporting Life [Sweetie Pie]
7. Just One of Those Things
8. Sweet Georgia Brown
9. This Can't Be Love
10. Sonny and Sweets [Blues in the Closet]
11. The Two Mothers
12. Nice Work If You Can Get It
13. You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me
14. Now's the Time
15. The Yellow Rose of Brooklyn
16. All Sweets [Lester Leaps]