Steve Smith and Buddy's
Buddies Liner Notes
The
recent popularity of jazz "concept records"
often creates a problem in the creative process.
Too many of these recordings result in weak
re-creations of the past. This was never a
factor with Steve Smith and Buddy's Buddies
(Tone Center 4006). Nostalgia was an idea that
Buddy Rich deeply despised, and this recording
does not in any way attempt to recreate the
music of the Buddy Rich band. Instead, this
recording is a celebration of the spirit of
Buddy Rich.
In the almost 15 years since
Buddy Rich's passing, there have been many
projects (recordings, articles, books) dedicated
to the memory of Buddy Rich. The most popular of
them has been the Burning For Buddy memorial
concerts and recordings in which various
drummers (including Steve Smith) have guested
with Buddy's legendary big band.
However,
one must remember that Rich didn't always lead
big bands; there were occasionally small groups
that bore his leadership. These smaller
ensembles featured sidemen such as Harry
"Sweets" Edison, Mike Mainieri, and Kenny
Barron. One of Buddy's best small group
recordings, "Very Live At Buddy's Place," could
be viewed as an early "model" for Buddy's
Buddies. It featured a front line of two saxes
as well as bassist Anthony Jackson, who graces
also this recording. Buddy also played on
numerous small group recordings as a sideman
with legends like Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie,
Charlie Parker, and Art Tatum. It is all of
these recordings that prompted Buddy's longtime
friend Stanley Kay, along with daughter Cathy
Rich and her husband Steve Arnold, to conceive
the idea of Buddy's Buddies, a small group of
only Buddy Rich alumni performing some of the
Buddy Rich band's most popular music.
The
first people they contacted were saxophonists
and longtime BR big band members Steve Marcus
and Andy Fusco. Fusco and Marcus contacted
drummer Steve Smith to inquire about the
possibility of him working with the band. Little
did they know that Smith was eager to get back
to playing jazz. At the time of their call Steve
was busy working with his own band Vital
Information and recording other fusion-oriented
projects, but his jazz roots were beckoning.
However, these interests were nothing new and
have been at the core of Smith's drumming since
day one. Buddy's Buddies is not only a coming
home for the Buddy Rich alumni, but the
completion of a stylistic circle for Steve Smith
as well.
In 1974-75, Smith's first
touring gigs were with Buddy Rich alumni Lin
Biviano in a big band, which
also included many other BR alumni. Steve
recalls seeing Buddy's band many times beginning
in 1968, and even recalls seeing one of his
small groups at Rich's nightclub in New York
City.
Upon leaving the Biviano big band,
Steve's career moved into the fusion and rock n'
roll worlds; then later to some assorted small
group jazz playing, as well a good deal of fiery
fusion more recently with Steps Ahead. In the
last 15 years he established himself as a
bandleader with eight Vital Information
recordings. But as with many artists, Steve is
always looking for new challenges and outlets
for his musical ideas. Therefore, when Fusco and
Marcus approached him with the idea of playing
with Buddy's Buddies, Smith was excited, deeply
honored and he enthusiastically jumped on board.
The initial idea was for Buddy's Buddies to
open up for the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1997;
most recently they performed at the "Salute to
Buddy Rich Concert" with Dennis Chambers and
Phil Collins (now released by Hudson Music on
video). But the "vibe" at the concert was so
strong that everyone involved wanted this to be
more than a one time performance. Marcus and
Fusco were eager to record Buddy's Buddies, and
are now hopeful that the band will become a
working band. Steve approached Tone Center
Records about recording Buddy's Buddies (he was
already in the midst of recording four
outstanding fusion records for Tone Center).
Upon an agreement to record, the concept of an
entire band consisting of only Buddy Rich alumni
prompted Smith to suggest bassist Anthony
Jackson and pianist/arranger Lee Musiker for
this very special recording. And so this band
was born.
While all of Buddy's Buddies
had played with Rich (except Smith), very few of
them were with him at the same time. Steve
Marcus was in the band longer than anyone else
that had ever played with Buddy, from 1975 to
1986; Andy Fusco's stay was from 1978 to 1983.
Lee Musiker's stay was shorter, spanning
1982 and '83. While Anthony Jackson is the elder
of the Buddies, first playing with Rich in 1973
and remaining until 1975. Their shared past, and
similar experiences provided a sense of
familiarity, and a common meeting place for the
Buddy's Buddies recording sessions. However,
once Buddy's Buddies began recording, they were
in the present and looking fondly towards the
future, not thinking of the past. Some of the
selections on this recording are "revisitations"
of the BR band's classic tunes with fresh new
arrangements, and some of them are just great
tunes performed with Buddy's spirit and fiery
attitude in mind.
While the spirit of
Buddy Rich was the spark behind these sessions,
the other musical experiences that the members
of band have had are the fuel that keeps the
inferno of this "little big band" burning from
beginning to end.
Steve Marcus brings
with him an adventurous spirit that was nurtured
in the 1960s on some of the earliest fusion with
Larry Coryell, Gary Burton, and Bob Moses. Andy
Fusco has been involved in several small group
recordings including his own for Double Time
Jazz. His bebop approach provides a cutting
"yin" to Marcus' modal "yang." Lee Musiker
sounds perfect in all situations. He is a member
of the unique exploratory jazz ensemble
Either/Orchestra, a large group that defies
explanation. Lee is a well rounded pianist, and
a talented arranger whose talents have yet to be
widely recognized by the jazz public. Anthony
Jackson is one of the busiest electric bassists
around, and is the originator of the electric
six string contrabass. He has recorded and
performed with groups led by Chick Corea, Steve
Khan, and Michel Petrucciani.
We can only
hope that this is just the beginning for this
exciting band. If Buddy's Buddies can provide a
fraction of the inspiration and fire that Buddy
Rich did, they will be around for a long time.
(Adapted from the liner notes by Mark
Griffith)
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