I have a confession to make: I used to go into this high-end stereo store on the ground floor of my dorm in college after classes were done for the day...just to listen to Donald Fagen's The Nightfy on this ridiculously sounding set-up (that I still wouldn't be able to afford). To their credit, they knew a poor college kid was never going to buy anything...but they indulged me anyway. Now you have to go to a "hi-fi show" to see/hear any of this stuff because the brick-and-mortar locations are long gone.
Different subject: as a drummer, I'm always amazed at how effortless Buddy Rich made things look. And he didn't need a 15-piece kit to make it interesting. The one that guy that comes to mind who can do that (from my generation) is Dave Weckl.
Drummers who make it look effortless have always caught my attention. I was fortunate to see Billy Higgins with Cedar Walton several times. I was always impressed by his relatively calm appearance, despite the energy coming from the drum kit. But to my eyes, one of the most understated drummers was Jo Jones. Never got to see him live, but there's video of him to enjoy. Nearly all his motion is from the elbows to the wrists. I find it amazing. Here's an example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv8D6kUN86s
What a great post again, Marc. And especially your experiences in the AR Demonstration Room. Highly interesting 👍.
And on top of that, about a musician I’ve admired since my youth: Buddy Rich. Around the same time -in the early 80s- I became a huge fan of Frank Sinatra, Maynard Ferguson, Mark Murphy, and I was lucky enough to see all of them perform live. Buddy Rich and his band, unfortunately, only once, on July 19th, 1986 in Munich. But I still remember that concert very well.
Back in the days before the internet, there were Fan Clubs, and naturally, I was a member of the Buddy Rich Fan Club - AND the Maynard Ferguson, Frank Sinatra, and Mark Murphy Fan Clubs, too 😄. I still have all the issues here at home.
Here's a not so well known tune composed and arranged by Bill Cunliffe. "No Exit" from April 3rd, 1985 in San Francisco. Bill Cunliffe is also at the piano. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/6owl7XeXLN0?is=21yhRyT9GETkH7-5
Hey Mark, always great to hear from other Mark Murphy fans. Yes, I know the Celebration of Life Memorial at St. Peter's Church in New York City. It's great that they filmed it nearly three hours. But you provided the wrong link. Your link shows Milt Buckner in 1975 😄, which is great. I just saw it. But here's the right link to the Celebration to Mark Murphy:
Great memories, Marc. Being a little older than you, I had the benefit of a few extra years of summer jobs. Thanks to my parents encouragement to save my hard-earned $1.66/hour from those minimum wage jobs, I was able to buy a pair of the entry-level AR-2x speakers around that time. The only Buddy Rich album I had to enjoy on them was "Big Swing Face" on reel-to-reel from Columbia House. It still sounds great all these years later.
I think Mercy, Mercy Mercy was the first BR album I bought in college though I did have the direct to disc Best Band I Ever Had (both on cd now). Still enjoy both of them. Thanks Marc!
I never knew the back story on Reddie and those great titles. Wow, this is why I subscribe. Amazing to me that Buddy tapped those two great arranging talents from Vegas hotels: Bill Reddie and Don Piestrup. They gave his band a very fresh and contemporary sound for the ‘60s. I also love the CD edition of “Mercy” from 1997, because it was the first time Phil Wilson’s great chart on “Mr. Lucky” was released. The track was rejected from the album, because Tony Bennett walks into the audience early in the track. You can hear the burst of applause, and if you have the volume up enough, you can hear Buddy say, “Tony Bennett!” I also have a soft spot for this record because it was recorded when I was born, July 1968. A tumultuous summer in our history.
Buddy's guitarist on those albums was Walt Namuth, a great player from Baltimore. Sadly, he never got to make an album as a leader, but they did find some tapes of him playing at the most well known club in Baltimore. I forget the name of the club and where I accessed the tapes,m but it's well worth seeking out.
I have a confession to make: I used to go into this high-end stereo store on the ground floor of my dorm in college after classes were done for the day...just to listen to Donald Fagen's The Nightfy on this ridiculously sounding set-up (that I still wouldn't be able to afford). To their credit, they knew a poor college kid was never going to buy anything...but they indulged me anyway. Now you have to go to a "hi-fi show" to see/hear any of this stuff because the brick-and-mortar locations are long gone.
Different subject: as a drummer, I'm always amazed at how effortless Buddy Rich made things look. And he didn't need a 15-piece kit to make it interesting. The one that guy that comes to mind who can do that (from my generation) is Dave Weckl.
Drummers who make it look effortless have always caught my attention. I was fortunate to see Billy Higgins with Cedar Walton several times. I was always impressed by his relatively calm appearance, despite the energy coming from the drum kit. But to my eyes, one of the most understated drummers was Jo Jones. Never got to see him live, but there's video of him to enjoy. Nearly all his motion is from the elbows to the wrists. I find it amazing. Here's an example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv8D6kUN86s
What a great post again, Marc. And especially your experiences in the AR Demonstration Room. Highly interesting 👍.
And on top of that, about a musician I’ve admired since my youth: Buddy Rich. Around the same time -in the early 80s- I became a huge fan of Frank Sinatra, Maynard Ferguson, Mark Murphy, and I was lucky enough to see all of them perform live. Buddy Rich and his band, unfortunately, only once, on July 19th, 1986 in Munich. But I still remember that concert very well.
Back in the days before the internet, there were Fan Clubs, and naturally, I was a member of the Buddy Rich Fan Club - AND the Maynard Ferguson, Frank Sinatra, and Mark Murphy Fan Clubs, too 😄. I still have all the issues here at home.
Here's a not so well known tune composed and arranged by Bill Cunliffe. "No Exit" from April 3rd, 1985 in San Francisco. Bill Cunliffe is also at the piano. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/6owl7XeXLN0?is=21yhRyT9GETkH7-5
Christian, another Marc Murphy fan here. Are you aware of the Celebration of Life that was captured on video after his passing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT5NDU9iv7Y
Hey Mark, always great to hear from other Mark Murphy fans. Yes, I know the Celebration of Life Memorial at St. Peter's Church in New York City. It's great that they filmed it nearly three hours. But you provided the wrong link. Your link shows Milt Buckner in 1975 😄, which is great. I just saw it. But here's the right link to the Celebration to Mark Murphy:
https://youtu.be/VLhzTiM-1Q0?is=4BXWC14nd1-IhRiR
Great memories, Marc. Being a little older than you, I had the benefit of a few extra years of summer jobs. Thanks to my parents encouragement to save my hard-earned $1.66/hour from those minimum wage jobs, I was able to buy a pair of the entry-level AR-2x speakers around that time. The only Buddy Rich album I had to enjoy on them was "Big Swing Face" on reel-to-reel from Columbia House. It still sounds great all these years later.
I think Mercy, Mercy Mercy was the first BR album I bought in college though I did have the direct to disc Best Band I Ever Had (both on cd now). Still enjoy both of them. Thanks Marc!
I never knew the back story on Reddie and those great titles. Wow, this is why I subscribe. Amazing to me that Buddy tapped those two great arranging talents from Vegas hotels: Bill Reddie and Don Piestrup. They gave his band a very fresh and contemporary sound for the ‘60s. I also love the CD edition of “Mercy” from 1997, because it was the first time Phil Wilson’s great chart on “Mr. Lucky” was released. The track was rejected from the album, because Tony Bennett walks into the audience early in the track. You can hear the burst of applause, and if you have the volume up enough, you can hear Buddy say, “Tony Bennett!” I also have a soft spot for this record because it was recorded when I was born, July 1968. A tumultuous summer in our history.
Never knew that about Tony’s walk-in on “Mr. Lucky.” Fun fact. Thanks!
I would also like to know more about Don Piestrup. I found his writing particularly appealing. If you have posted previously forgive me.
Buddy's guitarist on those albums was Walt Namuth, a great player from Baltimore. Sadly, he never got to make an album as a leader, but they did find some tapes of him playing at the most well known club in Baltimore. I forget the name of the club and where I accessed the tapes,m but it's well worth seeking out.
Hi Steve. Enjoy…
https://www.jazzwax.com/p/joe-la-barbera-on-walt-namuthhtml
Yeah, I stumbled on that when I did a search on Walt Namuth last night. Good piece!
He deserves to be more well known.