Channel 1 Suite - Buddy Rich

Arranged by Bill Reddie, Solos by Don Menza - ts, Bill Prince - tpt, Buddy Rich - d,
Buddy Rich - drums, Al Porcino, David Culp, Kenneth Faulk, Bill Prince - trumpet
Jim Trimble, Rick Stepton - trombone, Peter Graves - bass trombone
Charles Owens, Art Pepper - alto saxophone
Pat LaBarbera, Don Menza - tenor saxophone
John Laws - baritone saxophone
Walter Namuth - guitar
Gary Walters - double bass, electric bass
Joe Azarello - piano
Recorded July 7, 1968 at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

[Raven-osoj]

"As regards my feelings about drummers, there's Buddy Rich and then there's everybody else" - Mel Torme

[justinkraemer]

I love that the crowd started clapping about 1/3 of the way through the first part of Menza’s solo and he’s like “you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

[Braindeadith]

Played this chat my senior year of high school. Three saxophone soloist and myself(lead/ trumpet soloist) took it upon ourselves to learn the solos note for note. We both b studied and helped each other master (him more than me) the solid we had. Life was great. We were band nerds in 2007, but we had enough kids our age that respected good jazz. We had a big following all year learning the chart as it got better and better. Even had the lead trombone player for the buddy rich band come run a clinic with our little jazz band. Most fun I've ever had playing my trumpet. I'll never forget it.

[erikshure]

Why can't this be mainstream once again?

[jacobreeder]

Gotta love it when the tempo change is described as, "Slow stripper tempo"

[Dwildone]

Following Stan Kenton' s 'Processive Jazz/ Concert Jazz. Channel 1 Suite ranks in the top greatest masterpieces. Maynard is still blow'n' his horn up high!

[sticktrik]

That seamless buzz roll near the end with accents going into single strokes was FK’N UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

[TheDouglas]

Don't forget to credit Art Pepper on his short but sweet alto solo!

Also, Art was lead alto and Don was lead tenor on this session.

[Gonthor]

Probably the greatest 12 minutes and 50 seconds in jazz

[HYUC]

This is the finest big band playing you will ever hear, and that tenor solo - wonderful!

[joelglende]

One of, if not THE best versions out there in the Rich library! I grew up hearing so much good music and this album was at the top of the record collection my dad had! fantastic Brass sections and top drawer soloists with Don Menza way way out there giving us all a Master Class on melodic improvisation that seems to be lost today in chromatics!! BRAVO!

[bigGaza]

R.I.P. Nick Menza.
Talent like Father Like Son.

[jamesdrynan]

Probably the most musical drummer to ever pick up the sticks! His technical proficiency was awesome. Don Menza performs a solo using circular breathing on the tenor sax that is to die for! I love the way he slowly slides into the note at 4:41. So tasty!

[jamesdrynan]

Fantastic chart! Although the entire arrangement is sublime, my favorite segment starts at 2:40 with that guitar chord. The sax solo following is perfection! Menza's semitone slide at 4:40 is one of the sexiest sounds on the planet!

[jamesdrynan]

Thank goodness they made these recordings so we can continue to enjoy the artistry of these amazing men!

[EmpressTiffanyOfBrittany]

I remember hearing this on college radio. I was getting home from school after a long-ass cram session (and by "cram" I mean "cramming it into a girl", of course, and by that I mean I was TUTORING her duh) when I heard this come on the radio. At first I was like "Eh, standard jazz"... And then the rest of the song hit me like a freight train. I was blown away. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

When people talk about jazz, THIS is what they're talking about.

[johnnyreo]

No drummer could drive and swing a big band harder than Buddy Rich. Got my fist B.R album at 18, or19 as a Christmas present from an ex girlfriend. A now out of print best of compilation, , with this cut, West side story medley, etc. As a drummer raised on rock, soul and pop..with Blood sweat, ,&,Tears as my intro to some jazz, , , , This and Buddy's other work was a huge inspiration. So many drummers have tried to copy him, some very successful, ( no need to mention names), which is always so obvious and in my opinion a big mistake. There was only one Buddy Rich, period. Sadly, most know him from various talk show appearances when he was already in his 60s. His younger years, , especially for the time, were amazing.... His huge contribution to drumming, big band jazz, ( and smaller groups, , , check out his earlier work, ] will be highly regarded for generations to come.

[vegev]

Gene Krupa once quoted: "The Greatest Drummer that ever drew breathe"🎶

[saxunltd]

You notice how Buddy blends his cymbals with the trumpets behind Don's solo? Amazing! And so beautiful!

[miniongeorge]

4:12 I don’t see anyone else saying it, but I absolutely just love this part of the song