|
Buddy Rich was a freak of nature when it came to playing the drums. He did things on the drums that Krupa and Cole could only dream about. But he was above all else, a showman, and from what I've heard, one of the worst people ever to work for. A real #^&#^&#^&#^& to his sidemen.
Louie Belson, Basie's long time drummer, and Ed Shaugnessey of the Tonight Show band, were very underated big band drummers. In fact, the Tonight Show house band was one of the best big bands ever put together, especially when it came to the trumpet section. Besides Doc, you had Snooky Young on lead, and Conte Condoli in the section, and from time to time, Clark Terry would sit in as the second chair, which is the principal jazz soloist in a big band. Everyone made fun of Tommy Newsome, but he was a great sax player and an extremely talented arranger.
For small combo jazz, Joe Williams was about the best there was on the drums.
|