Buddy Rich – Tuff Dude (1974) (Denon)

This is a good live septet session recorded at Buddy's Place in the early 1970's. Rich's drumming is so powerful on the opener, "Donna Lee', that he virtually renders the sax soloist superfluous, as Buddy and Anthony Jackson could have carried the tune on their own. "Chameleon" finds him also pushing the band from behind, though the funky electric wah-wah on Jack Wilkins' guitar chords offers a stronger counterweight. Unfortunately, this track ends in a truncated fashion after only about 4 minutes of grooving. The recording is also a little murkier than the best technology of the day might have offered. Nevertheless, there are solos from Wilkins, Kenny Barron, Sonny Fortune, and Sal Nistico worth hearing, in addition to the leader's virtuoso performance.

His drumming technique

Rich's technique has been one of the most standardized and coveted in drumming. His dexterity, speed and smooth execution are considered "holy grails" of drum technique. While Rich typically held his sticks using traditional grip, he was also a skilled "match grip" player, and was one of few drummers to master the one-handed roll on both hands. Some of his more spectacular moves are crossover riffs, where he would criss-cross his arms from one drum to another, sometimes over the arm, and even under the arm at great speed.
He often used contrasting techniques to keep long drum solos from getting mundane. Aside from his energetic explosive displays, he would go into quieter passages. One passage he would use in most solos starts with a simple single-stroke roll on the snare picking up speed and power, then slowly moving his sticks closer to the rim as he gets quieter and then eventually playing on just the rim itself while still maintaining speed. Then he would reverse the effect and slowly move towards the center of the snare while increasing power.
Rich also demonstrated incredible skill at brush technique. On one album, Tatum Group Masterpieces No. 3 along with Lionel Hampton and Art Tatum, Rich plays brushes almost throughout with a mastery seldom achieved by any other drummer.
Another technique that few drummers have been able to perfect is the stick-trick where he does a fast roll just by slapping his two sticks together in a circular motion. When performing a single-stroke roll, Rich could be clocked at up to 20 strokes per second.

Personnel:

Buddy Rich - Drums
Sonny Fortune - Alto & Soprano Saxophones & Flute
Sal Nistico - Tenor Saxophone
Kenny Barron - Piano
Jack Wilkins - Guitar
Antony Jackson - Bass
Jimmy Maeulen - Percussion
Mike Abene - Piano on Track 04

Tracklist:

01. Donna Lee
02. Chameleon
03. 2nd Avenue Blue
04. Jumpin' at the Woodside
05. Sierra Lonely
06. Nica's Dream
07. Billie's Bounce

Recorded Live At "Buddy's Place" In New York, May, 1974