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Drummer Buddy Rich had that swagger, that cocksure grin; and he put together bands big and small
that swung hard and clean, thanks in large part to tight arrangements and his work on the skins.
Drummer Steve Smith and Buddy's Buddies are very much in that mode; and on Very Live at
Ronnie Scott's, Smith and his bandmates relive some of Buddy's finest moments at a London
club where the legendary drummer recorded one of his finest live performances.
In 1980, Buddy Rich recorded Buddy Live at Ronnie's, one of his orchestra's greatest
records. In 2002, drummer Steve Smith, backing a quintet that included two former Buddy Rich sax
men, altoist Andy Fusco and tenor and soprano man Steve Marcus, sets up shop at the same
Ronnie's, and swings like Buddy and the guys.
The set opens with one of Rich's staples, Cole Porter's "Love for Sale." It's as
swinging,
dynamic, and melodic as a song can get – and the quintet drives it hard, never looking back, for the
rest of the night.
Featured here also are Horace Silver's "Nutville," "Big Man Blues," by
Walt Weikopf (another Buddy
Rich Band Orchestra alum), and "Bopformation," written by
the quintet's pianist, Mark Soskin. Bright arrangements, some crisp Buddy-esque soloing, great sax
harmonies and solo slots, and a couple of post bop bonus tracks to round out the set: John
Coltrane's "Moment's Notice" and Sonny Rollins' "Airegin."
This is a concert reproduced on disc with fidelity – the songs were recorded and sequenced in
order, as they were played, and it sounds like a great, brightly swinging night of jazz, a la Buddy
himself.
Visit Steve Smith at
www.vitalinformation.com.
~ Dan McClenaghan
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Track Listing: Love for Sale,Nutville, Big Man Blues, Bopformation, How Do You Keep the Music Playing, The Pies
of A.Z., Manfredo's Fest, Ya Gotta Try, Moment's Notice, Airegin
Personnel: Steve Smith, drums; Andy Fusco, alto sax; Steve Marcus, tenor and soprano sax; Mark Soskin,
piano; Baron Browne, electric bass
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