Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 
Non-Prog CD Reviews

Buddy Rich

The Lost Tapes

Review by Gary Hill

This was recorded in 1985. The tapes were stored in a facility that suffered a fire, and thought lost forever. Recently, though, master and sub-master tapes were found, allowing this album to be created. Buddy Rich was an amazing drummer. That's obvious every step along this ride. The rest of the band are on fire, too. If you love great old school jazz, I highly recommend this. It's great that this gem was found again and could be released for the world to hear.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2018  Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2018.

Track by Track Review
Mexicali Nose
After an introduction, this powers out with some fast paced and incredibly potent jazz. These guys show they can deftly manipulate turns and hit the gas to really drive. Of course, Rich gets a short solo, but everyone in the band really shine so brightly. 
Willowcrest
Another up-tempo jam, I particularly love some of the melodies on this thing. The jamming is purely on fire. Rich's solo section here is so strong.
Round Midnight
Blasting in with a bombastic introduction, this drops back to a slower jam from there. It's more on the understated side as it makes its way forward. While this might lose a bit of the intensity of the first couple tunes, it still has all the cool. They power it up for some more driving movements, but it's still lower in tempo than the earlier tracks were. While I like this number, it doesn't win me over quite like its predecessors did.
Cotton Tail
Starting with drums, this is another driving fast paced jazz number. It's intense, furious and just so cool.
New Blues
I love the groove on this number. They work through some great shifts and changes. This thing has some cool soloing built into it, too.
Tee Bag
Rich starts this on his drums. holding it by himself for more than half a minute. The cut grows outward from there with piano driving it. The bass takes over after the piano is done with the limelight. They groove out beyond that bass solo with a lot of style and passion.
The Red Snapper
Drums lead this one off, too. It quickly gets a full arrangement as they launch into another smoking hot jazz groove. There is some powerhouse jamming on this thing.
Westside Story (Overture)
This rendition of sounds from the musical is over 15 and a half minutes long. It starts with bombast and works forward from there. This includes so much powerful music. Different instruments get the showcase at different points along the ride, but really isn't that jazz? Rich gets several drum solos that take up a lot of the duration of the track.
  
More CD Reviews
Metal/Prog Metal
Non-Prog
Progressive Rock
  
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com