Count Basie Orchestra - Wurlibird Recorded Live: 8/19/1990 - Newport Jazz Festival - Newport, RI More Count Basie Orchestra at Music Vault: Subscribe to Music Vault on RU-vid: goo.gl/DUzpUF
Just saw this monster drummer playing with an organ trio last night here in Nashville. Some 17 years have passed since this Basie video was made, and Duffy still stole last night's show with his amazing technique, tremendous sense of dynamics, and irresistable charm.
Duffy was playing professionally by the time I met him in high school, Miami Beach Senior High. He loved playing as part of the famous "Beach Bagel Band" up in the stands at baseball stadiums all around the county AND to the state tournament in Orlando. I just spent time with him accepting a lifetime jazz award. He even played that night! (He always sweats a ton!) He's still as fast and technically superb as ever.
In the 1980`s i got to see Duffy a lot in Ft.lauderdale.On sunday he played with Eddie Higgins,Don Coffman and Pet Minger at a club named Penguin`s.That was some of the best jazz i`v seen in my 86 years. FT
What a strong, beautiful sounding screaming High F# from the Lead Trumpet Player, Mike Williams at the end. Perfect attack with that great sound sustained right through the cutoff. That's how it's done!
Heard Duffy in 1975 with Monty Alexander--hardest swinging night in my life, and Monty's discipline kept the young drummer (then a teen-ager) in the pocket.
The title of the tune is Whirly Bird, the drum feature in the Basie band, performed masterfully here by Duffy Jackson. Some great drummers spotlighted on this tune like Sonny, Rufus, Harold and Butch Miles being my favorite.
Duffy is the one keeping this together. The "time" is all over the place. Might have to do with the outdoor venue. Still, the original Basie band was far tighter. And I saw that band in outdoor venues. Bravo to Duffy, though, he's the hero of this one. Frank Foster plays an excellent solo, too, as always.
Duffy didn’t cut for you? There were several really great BC drummers, in fact, they were all fantastic, including Mr. Duffy Jackson, RIP. I am a pro drummer and I give his performance two thumbs up. A little bit wilder and more intense than some of the other guys, but fantastic nonetheless and Duffy was a real crowd pleaser too. What’s wrong with a little entertainment? As long as it’s musical, who cares?
They were made in Florida, right? Then, not too long after Impact folded, another fiberglass shell drum company in Florida emerged, StingRay Drums. The late Butch Trucks played them for awhile. Duffy can make ANY brand of drums sing! I would've loved to see what kind of shape his drum heads were in after this performance. Especially his bass drum head. Holy Cow!
