Very Alive At Ronie Scott's

There is much confusion over this album, as several selections of tracks have been released on CD with the same cover photograph and lettering, and variations on similar titles; Live in London, Live at Ronnie Scott's, etc. They are all drawn to differing degrees from two original Buddy Rich LPs of the 70s; Rich in London (RCA LSP-4666) and Very Alive at Ronnie Scott's (English RCA DSP-2031).

At time of writing, several versions are simultaniously available, and the most useful is on the Mosaic Singles label, cat. B000VSBXBG. It is also not the most expensive. The defining title list is: 1. Dancing Men 2. The Word 3. St Mark's Square 4. That's Enough 5. Little Train 6. Moment's Notice 7. In a Mellow Tone 8. Milestones 9. Watson's Walk 10. Two Bass Hit 11. Theme From Love Story 12. Time Being 13. Buddy Rich Speaks. (Except the last) if you're missing any of those, don't buy! This disc also restores some intros and play-ins, where fade-ins were prefered on the original LPs.

It is worth taking all this trouble because just about all of those are essential Rich Band recordings without a lesser moment amongst them. After the first five Pacific Jazz records (Swinging New Band, Big Swing Face, etc) this is possibly the next most vital album to have when building a Buddy Rich collection. Much of it represents the very best the man had to offer, beautifully recorded in the so important live setting - it gives a pretty fair sense of what it was like to actually attend a Buddy Rich concert.

When the late 60s Buddy Rich Band first arrived in Britain it was to utter indifference and tiny audiences. By the end of that first tour they were selling out to rapturous crowds, and Britain was forever more a compulsory appointment in the band's schedule with around 25 shows a year across the country, and Ronnie Scott's Club a home from home, till Rich's death in '87. This is the first of their recordings at the club, the Man From the Planet Jazz album representing the last nearly a decade later.

Dancing Men, Milestones and In A Mellow Tone are all classics of the Band and turned up in the set list for the rest of Rich's life. Those who already know Dancing Men from the studio recording may find the squeeky soprano sax in the opening theme a little disconcerting, but this is a fabulous version of the number with band and leader completely settled in to the chart, a great trombone solo and drummer and bassist really locking together in their duet and taking it somewhere new from the earlier outing.

The Word is yet another of Don Piestrup's ever reliable charts for the band, as usual conveying two contrasting moods; fiercly driving yet wistful at the same time. For young drummers it is an essay in what can be done with a straight 4/4 groove: there is masses going on but Buddy is still supporting the band, not trampling on it. And it represents Rich's textural playing at its best. His snare never sounded better or more delicate than in the feathery playing in the last section, patterns interlacing with the ride cymbal and accents from left foot clashes of the hi-hat. Understated genius.

St Mark's Square hopefully will show beginners why they should not neglect their brushes. Though there are many other fine practitioners, Buddy dominated this form as well. That's Enough features daughter Cathy's vocal trio. To some it may seem a distraction from the serious business, but actually there is great charm in the drive and exuberance of her voice in this Andrews-Sisters-meet-rock-and-roll spot.

Little Train supplies one of the two multi-section, multi-tempo numbers on the album, always a crucial part of Rich's show. Excitement levels raised, Moment's Notice builds on it with a very nimble up-tempo arrangement. In A Mellow Tone (Ellington) was a perenial Rich Band favorite, calming things down a touch for some straight ahead swing - great saxes.

Milestones: for those who never saw the band, a standard Rich move was to set a line going on his hi-hat, perhaps throw in a change of beat or two, and then call out a number to the band, as he does here ("eighty four!", or whatever), at which the players would dive to their sheet music madly searching through for the right chart and getting it set out and their instruments to their lips just as Buddy counted the number in. It was real, not a rehearsed stunt, and it kept the band and the audience anxiously paying attention... In the minds of fans, Milestones is strictly a Buddy Rich hit: Miles Davis merely wrote it.

Watson's Walk, like John La Barbera's earlier track Dancing Men, takes its title from the sax player's enthusiasm for Sherlock Holmes stories, apparently to Buddy's wry amusement. It's another nice mid-tempo swinger. Two Bass Hit is aggressively up-tempo, a breathless race around the hairpins with breakneck drum playing and a gasping finish. Love Story takes things right down and shows that the band wasn't only a vehicle for Rich's pyrotechnics: he was a flawless accompanist too, and knew when to stay in the background.

The show-stopper arrives with Time Being, the other mutli-section composition of the evening. The spectacle of a big band in full cry is something you never forget, like standing in the middle lane of the M1 with three trucks racing towards you. Here we dive between swing and straight eighths in a concerto for drumkit and band, with solos almost as cadenzas between the mood changes. The final solo is perhaps less barnstorming, more thoughtful and technical than some, a connoisseur piece; before the band comes back in for a final high adrenalin playout.

Epic stuff. As a first glimpse of Buddy and his band, or an addition to a collection, this is crucial and irreplacable. Five stars.

After reading Mel Torme's biography of Buddy Rich (Traps - The Drum Wonder) i wanted an example of the band at peak performance.But, being a bass player i didn't want to hear too many solos! I'd heard that "Take It Away" was a good example but i didn't recognise any of the tracks."Very Alive at Ronnie Scott's" not only has well known standards, but the venue was an obvious attraction.Favourite tracks depend on your musical viewpoint but these are mine."Moment's Notice" takes us into a high gear immediately. "In A Mellow Tone" is a lovely arrangement that swings along beautifully. I was a bit wary of "Superstar".The marriage of big band and a rock beat doesn't always work for me. I needn't have worried as this arrangement owes more to jazz than rock. "St. Marks Square" is a pretty tune with a huge range of dynamics and some impressive high note trumpet work. "Little Train" is the best showcase for the band's precision playing. The break into the fast swing section and seamless transition to slow again says it all for me.If your looking for an album showcasing Buddy Rich's drumming skills you will find plenty of examples here. But if you want ot hear a great band at the top of their form with one of the best jazz drummers driving it masterfully from the centre, then this is the album for you.

This is jaw dropping stuff. Buddy and the band are on absolutely top form.