Burning For Buddy: A Tribute To The Music Of Buddy Rich CD

Live Recording

Buddy Rich Big Band: Andy Fusco, Dave D'Angelo, Steve Marcus, Walt Weiskopf, Jack Stuckey (saxophone); Dave Stahl, Ross Konikoff, Greg Gisbert, Scott Wendholt (trumpet); John Mosca, Rick Trager, George Gesslein (trombone); Jon Werking (piano); Chuck Bergeron (bass).
Additional personnel: Gary Keller (tenor saxophone, flute); Bob Millikan, Craig Johnson, Dan Collette, Mike Ponella, Joe Magnarelli, Tony Kadleck (trumpet); John Hart, Chuck Loeb, Bill Beaudoin (guitar); Jon Werking (keyboards); Simon Phillips, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Matt Sorum, Steve Smith, Manu Katche, Bill Cobham, Max Roach, Rod Morgenstein, Omar Hakim, Ed Shaughnessy, Joe Morello, Bill Bruford, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Steve Ferrone (drums); Neil Peart, Kenny Aronoff (drums, percussion); Mino Cinelu (percussion).
Recorded at Power Station, New York in May, 1994. Includes liner notes by Neil Peart.
BURNING FOR BUDDY: A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF BUDDY RICH contains 18 tracks, featuring top drummers ranging from jazz great Max Roach to Guns N' Roses' Matt Sorum. Buddy Rich does not appear on this tribute.
Personnel: Chuck Loeb, Bill Beaudoin, John Hart (guitar); Gary Keller (flute, tenor saxophone); Dave d'Angelo, Jack Stuckey, Andy Fusco, Steve Marcus, Walt Weiskopf (saxophone); Craig Johnson, Dave Stahl, Greg Gisbert, Dan Collette, Joe Magnarelli, Mike Ponella, Scott Wendholt, Tony Kadleck, Bob Millikan, Ross Konikoff (trumpet); George Gesslein, Rick Trager, John Mosca (trombone); Jon Werking (piano); Dave Weckl, Joe Morello, Kenny Aronoff, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Matt Sorum, Max Roach, Neil Peart, Omar Hakim, Rod Morgenstein, Simon Phillips, Steve Gadd , Steve Smith , Bill Bruford, Ed Shaughnessy, Billy Cobham, Steve Ferrone (drums).
Audio Mixers: Don Hachey; Simon Pressey.
Liner Note Author: Neil Peart.
Editor: Simon Pressey.
Arrangers: Greg Hopkins; Harold Wheeler; Peter Myers; Mike Barone; John La Barbera; Phil Wilson; Sammy Nestico; Bill Reddie; Bob Mintzer.
Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 1 assembles a shifting cast of virtuoso trap-set players sitting in with the Buddy Rich and His Big Band in order to pay tribute to its legendary founder. Some of the musicians come from rock & roll, often with experience in prog rock or rock/jazz fusion (i.e., the Cult/Guns N' Roses' Matt Sorum, Winger/Dixie Dregs' Rod Morgenstein, Rush's Neil Peart, Yes/King Crimson's Bill Bruford). Others made their mark primarily in the jazz world, including Max Roach, Dave Weckl, Billy Cobham, and Marvin "Smitty" Smith, among others. There are also some drummers who are primarily known for their versatile session work, able to play both rock and jazz; while these players' work is almost always competent, they rarely display much individuality. So overall, Burning for Buddy has more of a modern flavor than one might expect, and it's as uneven as most tribute albums, but the high points may make it worth picking up for some. ~ Steve Huey

Down Beat (11/94, p.42) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...Rich regularly performed most of these tunes and arrangements. Now, even with a different drummer on each track, the spirit of his brash, fiery style dominates the album...Hearing some of the rockers play straight-ahead jazz is the biggest revelation..."
Jazziz (2/95, p.93) - "...completely unleashed...assembly of today's trap set monsters....inspired, stellar performances..."