"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
11/27/2018 at 08:33 • Filed to: None
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"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
11/27/2018 at 08:33 • Filed to: None | 1
| 8 |
I fell down a Buddy Rich rabbit hole on the Internets yesterday and found this performance from the Tonight Show from 1975 that is simply incredible. Buddy Rich is famous (or infamous) for being a complete asshole (for context, watch the first half of this clip, or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , where he disses country music) . That is not an incorrect assessment, but I think it’s a bit more complicated than that. Perhaps arrogant is a better word, but it’s an arrogance he backs up every time he picks up his sticks. At any rate, he was certainly one of the greatest drummers of our time, or even of all time. A staunch advocate for jazz, Rich spent the majority of his later career playing at schools and universities in the hopes of inspiring younger people to take up the art form.
If you’re not awake yet, this will get your blood pumping. It is the epitome of the word “tight” when used to describe a performance.
Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
> ttyymmnn
11/27/2018 at 08:41 |
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heres someone else famous for being a complete asshole
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ttyymmnn
> Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
11/27/2018 at 08:46 |
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Nah, he’s just being a dick.
Chariotoflove
> ttyymmnn
11/27/2018 at 09:45 |
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My high school was one of those. My jazz band opened for him. We got to meet the band, and I have his autograph somewhere. He was a bit, shall we say, abrasive. But his visit had its intended effect. It was a formative moment I won’t forget.
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ttyymmnn
> Chariotoflove
11/27/2018 at 10:07 |
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I’ve met and played with some truly great musicians in my career. I wish I had met Rich. I’m not saying that his playing excuses his arrogance, but I think it’s just too easy to say he was an asshole and leave it at that. As I said, it’s more complicated. I think he didn’t tolerate anybody who didn’t take things as seriously as he did. I think he also didn’t tolerate people who didn’t think the way he did, or people who didn’t think as much of Rich as Rich thought of himself. Maybe he had Tourette , who knows? He did die of a brain tumor.
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Chariotoflove
> ttyymmnn
11/27/2018 at 10:51 |
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I think your assessment is probably accurate from what I’ve heard
Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
> ttyymmnn
11/27/2018 at 14:41 |
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One of Buddy Rich’s former saxophonists had gotten word of his recent passing. Knowing the nature of rumours, gossip, and the like, the sax player picked up his phone, and dialed the number of his former boss.
Buddy’s wife, now a widow, answered. “Hello?”
The saxophonist recognized the woman’s voice instantly. After a momentary pause, he replied. “Hi, sorry to bother you this early in the day. Would it be possible for me to speak to Buddy?”
There was a beat of uncomfortable silence before Buddy’s widow responded. “I’m afraid you hadn’t heard. Buddy...he died yesterday. We’re...we’re still working on the arrangements.”
“Oh...I...My apologies for the mistake. You have my deepest condolences. Please take care.” He didn’t wait for a response from the woman, and gently set the handset back on the phone’s cradle.
After a few hours had passed, just before lunch, the musician picked up the phone and dialed the number again. As his call was answered, he inquired, “Hi, is Buddy there?”
After another uncomfortable hesitation, Buddy’s widow again informed the saxop honist of her husband’s passing. Once again, he apologized for bothering her, and hung up.
As dinnertime approached, he picked up the phone a third time, and asked for the drummer yet again. This time, the widow responded differently.
“I recognize your voice, sir, and this is the third time you’ve called today. I’ve told you, each time, that Buddy is no longer with us. He’s dead. Do you understand that?”
“I do, ma’am. I just...I just don’t get tired of hearing you say it. Have a great night!”
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ttyymmnn
> Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
11/27/2018 at 14:45 |
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That’s brilliant. How did you guys do at UIL?
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Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
> ttyymmnn
11/27/2018 at 19:19 |
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Heard that one from my conducting professor back in undergrad. ^_^
We finished 37th out of 41. Highest placing band from our area (Area A), which is considered to be the weakest in the state...and beat a few bands from other areas too...but we knew wouldn’t be competitive . The community climate in El Paso isn’t anything like the high income areas like Leander and the Dallas suburbs. The marching band budgets for the Vista Ridges and Vandergrifts of the world exceed the full year budgets of all six of my district’s high schools programs. ^_^
We’re not content, though. We’re aiming to qualify for state consistently and start climbing towards finals eventually. But we know the truth, too...that the area qualifying system means that there were bands that were objectively better than us who didn’t qualify because their areas were more competitive. Best in West Texas is a good place to start, though. Hope your son’s program is as strong or stronger than what we’ve got here. Seeing where you’re at, it’s probably a stronger program than ours.