Buddy Rich And His Buddies · Playtime (2 Lps On 2 Cds) + Bonus Tracks

Buddy Rich

Featuring: Buddy Rich (d), Don Goldie (tp), Sam Most (cl, fl, as), Mike Mainieri (vib, arr), John Morris (p), Wilbur Wynne (g), Richard Evans, Wyatt Ruther (b), Vinny Marino (conga)

REFERENCE: FSRCD 724_2

“The world’s greatest drummer,” Buddy Rich, is at the helm of this happy, driving small group in two sessions from 1960 and 1961—one of them remained unreleased for many years—that feature the stirring playing of multi-reedman Sam Most and Rich’s young discovery, the astonishing vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. 

Both Most and Mainieri (who also did most of the group’s writing) are abundantly inventive soloists, while the buoyantly effective rhythm section is a Rich archetype. With the leader keeping the drum solos within reasonable limits—mostly breathtakingly brilliant four or eights, and passages ingeniously integrated with the rhythmic patterns of the ensemble—this is one of his tightest small groups. 

As a bonus, this set includes tracks from rare radio broadcasts aired in October 1961, during one of the band’s appearances at Birdland. Though known mainly as a big band drummer, Rich demonstrates, through his breathtaking virtuosity and versatility, that he could electricfy an ensemble of any size or any style. His finesse, control, and taste were simply astonishing.


Tracklisting:

CD 1

01. Lulu’s Back in Town (Dubin-Warren) 5:48
02. Playtime (Sam Most) 6:09
03. Will You Still Be Mine? (Adair-Dennis) 4:40
04. Fascinatin’ Rhythm 
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin) 4:33
05. Makin’ Whoopee (Donaldson-Kahn) 4:22
06. Marbles (Morris-Most) 5:46
07. Misty (Erroll Garner) 5:04
08. Cheek to Cheek (Irving Berlin) 6:15
09. The Night Is Young and You’re So Beautiful 
(Kahal-Rose-Suesse) 3:06
10. Little Susie (Ray Bryant) 5:02
11. R.B. (Mike Mainieri) 4:50
12. Angel Eyes (Dennis-Brent) 3:50

CD 2

01. The Be-Bop Irishman (Ray Bryant) 5:05
02. Foxy (Sam Most) 3:10
03. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top 
(Hammerstein-Rodgers) 5:37
04. The Way You Look Tonight (Fields-Kern) 4:34
05. Doxy (Sonny Rollins) 2:53
06. Mountain Greenery (Hart-Rodgers) 2:54
Bonus Tracks:
07. Cheek to Cheek (Irving Berlin) 3:09
08. Lulu’s Back in Town 
(Dubin-Warren) / Blues 2:04
09. Baubles, Bangles and Beads 
(Wright-Forrest) 2:22
10. Mountain Greenery 
(Rodgers-Hart) / Blues 3:59
11. Misty (Erroll Garner) 2:34
12. Sweet Georgia Brown 
(Bernie-Pinkard-Casey) / Blues 4:44
13. Little Girl Blue (Rodgers-Hart) 2:26
14. After You’ve Gone 
(Layton-Creamer) / Blues 3:55


Sources:

CD 1, tracks 1-8: “Playtime”, Argo LP-676

CD 1, tracks 9-12 & CD 2 tracks 1-6: unreleased Argo album

CD 2, tracks 7-14: Broadcast National Guard Sessions



Personnel on "Playtime":

Buddy Rich & His Buddies: Sam Most (clarinet, flute, alto sax); Mike Mainieri (vibes, arranger); John Morris (piano); Wilbur Wynne (guitar); Richard Evans (bass); Buddy Rich (drums).

On #2 & 6 Don Goldie, trumpet, added.

Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago, Oct. 3 & 4 (#2, 6), 1960


Personnel on the unissued Argo album:

Sam Most (plays only flute); Wilbur Wynne out; Wyatt Ruther (bass, replaces Evans); Vince Marino (conga, added); and Ernie Wilkins, probably arranger on CD 1 #11 & CD 2 #1.

Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago, circa January 1961


Personnel on "Let's Go to Town":

Sam Most (flute); Mike Mainieri (vibes); Johnny Morris (piano); Wyatt “Bill” Ruther (bass); Buddy Rich (drums); Vinny Marino (conga).

Sergeant Jim Collins, master of ceremonies.

NBC radio broadcast, National Guard Sessions, October 1961



Original Argo sessions produced by Jack Tracy

Compiled for CD release by Jordi Pujol & Bruce Klauber


Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered