Change Of Pace....
My sweet, loving attentive wife doesn’t appreciate Jazz.
There was a time in my life when it took up a considerable portion of my time and energy. I spent the better part of 12 years of my life refining my music on a beautiful Getzen “Severinsen” model B-flat trumpet. I loved playing that instrument. And I loved my father all the more for introducing me to Jazz. I started playing Jazz melodies when I was 12. By the time I was in High School I was taking weekly private lessons from an incredible, local tutor and beginning to excel.
College rolled around and I stayed connected with Jazz, Big Band, Blues and all manner of musical disciplines. My interest and respect for the professional musician rose exponentially as I became exposed to a wider range of artists. Mostly, I would seek out fellow trumpeters and brass musicians alike. Later, I developed an ear for “the other guys” in the ensemble. The sax, guitar, piano and those crazy drummers! Names like- Gillespie, Basie, Coltrane, Dorsey, Goodman, Miller, Parker, Hines, Morton, Oliver, Davis, Satchmo, Ellington, Monk, Ferguson, Fitzgerald, Hirt, Severinsen, Clark, Shaughnessy and Vizutti.
The video clip below is of the late, great Jazz drummer- Buddy Rich. (1917-1987)
Buddy’s career started in 1921 at the tender age of 4! (His parents were vaudeville actors.) He was 53 when this video was taken- and going strong. He had his own band, his own HUGE reputation in jazz circles and was unarguably known as the best drummer in the history of the world. I will publicly contend that he still is- even in death. No one has come along to dethrone the king of the trap set.
The video is 4 minutes long. After the first minute, things get VERY interesting. The momentum that Buddy could build into his drum solos remains legendary. He was one of the finest musicians and showmen on the circuit. Many of today’s greats attribute their expertise and showmanship to emulating their mentor - Buddy Rich. An accomplished musician, writer and publisher of his own charts- there will never be another like him!
Is there any drummer left in this world who can accurately keep tempo with Rich’s heralded, quintessential chart, Time Check? No one comes to mind…
There was a time in my life when it took up a considerable portion of my time and energy. I spent the better part of 12 years of my life refining my music on a beautiful Getzen “Severinsen” model B-flat trumpet. I loved playing that instrument. And I loved my father all the more for introducing me to Jazz. I started playing Jazz melodies when I was 12. By the time I was in High School I was taking weekly private lessons from an incredible, local tutor and beginning to excel.
College rolled around and I stayed connected with Jazz, Big Band, Blues and all manner of musical disciplines. My interest and respect for the professional musician rose exponentially as I became exposed to a wider range of artists. Mostly, I would seek out fellow trumpeters and brass musicians alike. Later, I developed an ear for “the other guys” in the ensemble. The sax, guitar, piano and those crazy drummers! Names like- Gillespie, Basie, Coltrane, Dorsey, Goodman, Miller, Parker, Hines, Morton, Oliver, Davis, Satchmo, Ellington, Monk, Ferguson, Fitzgerald, Hirt, Severinsen, Clark, Shaughnessy and Vizutti.
The video clip below is of the late, great Jazz drummer- Buddy Rich. (1917-1987)
Buddy’s career started in 1921 at the tender age of 4! (His parents were vaudeville actors.) He was 53 when this video was taken- and going strong. He had his own band, his own HUGE reputation in jazz circles and was unarguably known as the best drummer in the history of the world. I will publicly contend that he still is- even in death. No one has come along to dethrone the king of the trap set.
The video is 4 minutes long. After the first minute, things get VERY interesting. The momentum that Buddy could build into his drum solos remains legendary. He was one of the finest musicians and showmen on the circuit. Many of today’s greats attribute their expertise and showmanship to emulating their mentor - Buddy Rich. An accomplished musician, writer and publisher of his own charts- there will never be another like him!
Is there any drummer left in this world who can accurately keep tempo with Rich’s heralded, quintessential chart, Time Check? No one comes to mind…
posted by Troy M. Stirman | 12:03 PM
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