Speaking of great drummers, on July 9, 2023, Ed Soph, responded to my Great Drummers Opinion of Buddy Rich post, with a delightful story about the great bassist Ray Brown on Buddy Rich. Ed gave me permission to share his letter.

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Following Morello’s remarks of Buddy Rich’s listening acuity, I had lunch with Ray Brown many years ago when he visited North Texas. I asked him whose drumming he most enjoyed. “Buddy”, he replied. “Why?”, I asked. “We both felt the time in the same place, on-top-of-the beat.”

Then he told me a story that revealed a lot more.

Shortly after he arrived in NY, he went to a rehearsal of the Dorsey band. They were running through the music for the acts that they would back that evening. A vocalist complained to Dorsey that “the drummer” wasn’t reading his charts; just keeping time and not playing any figures. Dorsey told the fellow not to worry that all would be fine for the evening’s performance.

Ray returned for the performance and said that Buddy was catching band figures that the vocalist didn’t even know could be caught! Ray said that Buddy heard everything.

And, he ended his story by saying that Buddy was the only musical genius he had ever met.

Morello, as he often did, hit the nail right on the head. But, then, Joe was a musician, like Buddy, who happened to played drums.

Even today, Buddy is categorized as a big band drummer/soloist and many are not aware of the vast scope of his genius. Check out the Nat King Cole Trio with Lester Young and Buddy…and no bass player!

Stay well!
Ed