Drummer Reacts To - BUDDY RICH DRUM SOLO EXCELLENCE FIRST TIME HEARING 

Yes, Buddy Rich was the greatest drummer of all time. Even after more than 10 minutes of incredible playing, he still had hand speed and accuracy that was way beyond most drummers! And he was incredibly accurate! Never catches a rim, never drops or breaks a stick. Always wore a suit and tie for gigs!

Meeting Buddy in 1986 and shaking his hand was one of the coolest things that ever happened in my life.

I think it was Krupa that said there's Buddy then there's everyone else. He was a terror to work for I heard but he demanded excellence. He's the only person that I know of that had a heart attack while playing a solo but finished it and then said to Kathy (Daughter) Take me to a hospital, what a Beast!

The speed, stamina, imagination, and sheer swing of the man was something to behold. Saw him live many times in the Boston area and every time I saw and heard something I had never seen or heard before. Best ever without doubt.

Bubby Rich was beyond great, he was SUPERNATURAL. He was born with this freak gift that put him in his own tier. When drummers saw him play live they didn't walk out inspired, they were devasted!

Yeah, I haven't heard or seen anyone better than Buddy Rich. I saw him performing live twice, and I have a number of DVDs of his concerts over the years, and still he just seems miles beyond anyone else with not just his speed, but everything he comes up with and plays on the fly...constantly changing rhythms.

Buddy is in a league of his own. I remember watching him on TV when I was a kid. His playing is just mind-blowing. Soooo fast!

There's so much more to him than speed. Think of his age that he's doing this at and he even does it at older ages too. Think about the presence he commands behind that kit and how he pushes his band way beyond their abilities. His longevity and consistency is maybe the most impressive

I've been admiring Buddy Rich since I was a kid in the 60's. I'm still amazed by his talent. Truly the best there ever was.

There are drummers, and there is Buddy Rich.

Yes. Buddy is the greatest drummer of all time, regardless of genre. My personal favorite and probably influenced the most people alive today to want to be a drummer - Ringo.

He's so fast he looks like he is drumming with brushes. so controlled and smooth.

I was graced to see Buddy and his band play at Harper College back in the early 80's, and it was absolutely amazing to see the world's greatest perform live

this dude had drumming figured out. it's crazy that he still stacks up well to modern top drummers even after decades. plus that he literally started playing in the 1920s and 1930s. what a freak

Buddy is the GOAT. Neil Peart to me is behind him in second. Buddy was in his mid 50's during this performance. 2 interesting little known facts. 1. Buddy never had a kit set up in his home. The only time he played was when he was learning new material with his band and on stage performing. 2. Buddy couldn't read music. He would have a drummer play new material as it was written and after hearing one time he'd have it memorized. You should watch some of his drum battles. Especially his battle against Animal. Yes that Animal...

No one then or now would even try to go up against him , He IS the greatest drummer of all PERIOD !

Saw Buddy a number of times on UK tours. I have never seen anyone better than him and I doubt I ever will. A bona fide legend.

I spent countless hours watching my Buddy Rich Jazz Legends vol 1 &2 vhs tapes. I feel in love with his power, finesse and his single stroke roll. His playing definitely inspired me to want to improve and work my ass off to be the best drummer 🥁 I could.

Buddy Rich is the best! I just love watching him, as he almost goes into a trance while playing. I wish they would make a movie about him and his life.

There seems to be no limit on his technique or creativity with his technique. I have seen him live and on video and.he never seemed to phone it in. Every performance was him proving to the world he was the best.

Been following this guy for 55 years RIP....PRETTY NASTY BLACK BELT TOO ❤

First time I saw Buddy Rich was in the "foyer" of a bar on Broadway 1950. I have followed him wherever I could and once in Youngstown Ohio I got to sit with him and of all things discussed with him his progress in Karate. His teacher was a classmate of mine in JR High school. I have played drums since I was 5 y/o and just find his skills remarkable. I could never achieve what he has, but I'm thankful to have heard him, met him, and thank God for him and his talent. The best ever. CSM 88y/o.

Buddy got every ounce of range out of the kit because he had ears and talent of a genius

What makes him the best American drummer is the fact that Buddy Rich kept his solos in respect to drum rudiments and military accuracy, without, if you notice, throwing in Latin rhythms.He kept everything American and free of outside rhythms.( im black by the way)Dont get me wrong, jazz came from black folks, and he was a major contributor, genius jazz drummer.The best.Most drummers today cant escape latin rhythms, or gospel fills in their jazz solo.Buddy kept it real, complex and simple at the same time....on a 4 piece kit too😮😮😮

Greatest drummer EVER!

One word for Buddy Rich: GOAT.

I believe he was the best all around drummer if you take every aspect into consideration. He was an absolute perfectionist. If he made a mistake he was so good he’d make sure you never knew it. I also believe the drummer from Spain that everyone is watching on RU-vid right now has studied Buddy Rich big time. You can can see a lot of the Buddy Rich style in his playing. Just imagine what Buddy could have done with a modern drum set with modern pedals.

There are drummers of all tonal colors, flavors, styles, energies, musicalities. The great jazz beasts like Elvin Jones, Lenny White, Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd and etc., etc., The great Rock legends, John Bonham, Carl Palmer, Ian Paice, Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, Tommy Aldridge, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, Michael Shrieve, Buddy Miles and on and on. The fantastic Art Rock drummers like Bill Bruford and Neil Peart and etc. The wonderful pop music drummers like Phil Collins, Carter Beauford, Steve Smith, David Robinson, Martin Chambers, Karen Carpenter, Nigel Olsen and on and on. The great R&B, Soul and Funk drummers such as Bernard Purdie, James Gadsen, Tiki Fulwood, Fred White, Clyde Stubblefield, Greg Errico, JR Robinson and on and on. Then there are the hundreds and hundreds of orchestral drummer who play for symphonies around the world, amazing technicians and players of kit drums and often other percussion instruments. Then the hundreds more studio drummers over the last 70 or more years who are incredibly varied, talented, creative and etc. So with all that variety and talent and style variation and influences and personalties in drumming over the last century, to say, " WHO IS THE BEST? " is simply a mute question, a null thing, an empty set, a non-starter...a foolish, ignorant, obtuse, silly and frankly stupid, nonsensical question. Now, with all that said and understood, I will say and must say that: Buddy Rich was, THE BEST, THE GREATEST, THE #1 DRUMMER OF ALL TIME. Got that? He had it ALL and including a talent beyond anyone, anywhere. He had groove, rhythm, creativity, rock solid timing, speed, power, explosiveness, perfect flow, musical charisma, endless endurance and stamina even into his 70's right before he died. He had a memory beyond compare, did not read music but could here a chart ONCE and create a drum pattern for it and memorize and play it perfectly from that day onward even if the piece of music was 25 minutes long. He was a genius and his technical skill and dynamics are unsurpassed. He played classic jazz, be bop, big band, cocktail jazz, jazz rock fusion, blues, jazz funk, funk, pop, orchestral music, theater productions, etc. As so many have said about the man over the last 50 years... Yes, he was a phenom, an enigma. Yes, he was FAST. Yes he had subtle dynamics, intricate, soft feathery playing when needed with ghost notes to die for. Yes, he could SWING like no other drummer. Yes, he was the Bruce Lee of drums. Yes, he had another gear that others just didn't have. Yes, he could lead a band and push them with his drumming better than any other drummer. Yes, he was a TORNADO on the drums. Yes, every drummer wanted to do what he could do....but never could. So my answer to your question in the video on whether Buddy Rich was the GOAT on the drums is......Hell yes. 👍

Definitely Buddy Rich was the best of all time, hands down no contest

What puts a real perspective on Buddy Rich is that he came from the 1st 1/2 of the 20th century. When there was literally nothing for influence other than startup drummers and you had to be at a live show, fortunate enough to find the record album, or be at the mercy of AM Radio with poor audio and zero playback to get drum parts learned. Talk about a guy here on the drums who's an original, yet on his own(he received no lessons from drum clinics/college) to develop ingenious skill and speed which to this day, nearly a century later, is still immeasurable to any other drummer. Buddy Rich is truly the legend above all others, because it requires much less skill process for drummers thereafter to try and copy..... than it is to create.

The hands of god ! Not just fast but accurate, precise and insanely musical!!! Him and his generation invented drumming for the drum kit.

the greatest hands down..not only did he influence other jazz drummers but every hot shot rock drummer owes Buddy Rich (weather they know it or not)

Buddy Rich was without question the best drummer of all time. He's a cut above all other drummers, period. He's The Beatles of the drums. I do though think that Carl Palmer of ELP was the best Rock Drummer but Buddy Rich in a class all by himself. By the way Colby, I'd like to see your reaction to the Drum Solo by Carl Palmer as a 70 year old. It's also on You Tube (Search 70 year old Carl Palmer Drum Solo).

I first saw Buddy on the Johnny Carson show in the seventies. The best ever.! AND IN A SUIT!!!

I saw Buddy play live and I saw Louie Bellson play live. No contest, both were great but nobody could play like Buddy! I saw Buddy in Hollywood and in attendance was Ed Shaughnessy, Johnny Carson, and Buddy's family. A rare and special night and I was right by the stage.

"The greatest of all-time ever in the span of human evolution leading to the world as we know it now....he is the GOAT"- me

No one knew how great Buddy was more than he himself.

I saw him twice open for Frank Sinatra and he is amazing. He has to be the best. Single peal, fast hands and endurance!

What always fascinated me was his control and speed of the left hand, what made him so friggin fast and accurate. I've got a lot of drummers on my list, especially Vinnie Colaiuta and Jon Hiseman, but no one can reach Buddy Rich. The best, period.

I saw Buddy Rich in 1984. He opened for Frank Sinatra. I'm still amazed at how great he was

Buddy Rich, hands down, best ever.

If Bruce Lee were a drummer this is what I imagine him to be like.

love me some buddy rich,saw him live in '83,sat 20 feet away center.

As a budding professional guitar player in 1968, at 15 years old, I found myself hanging out with Buddy in his dressing room at Ceasar's Palace. I still have the autograph framed on my wall. To all rock drummers: No MATCH GRIP! Learn how to play. It's all in the left hand. It's the "roll" in the rock & roll.

This is next level drumming. The envy of every drummer out there. Best ever

He had impeccable speed control, tempo control and volume control. Speed and volume control is something very rare in all of the drummers I know. And he doesn't need a one hundred piece kit either.

Grew Up Listening To Jazz In The Seventies And There Was None Better Than Buddy Rich!!

The "Blur" Buddy Rich, in my opinion, was the GOAT of drums. Some liked Krupa's style but technically no one "beats" Buddy. In my book Buddy is #1, for style Ginger Baker, John Bonham for his rage and originality, then the drummer from Santana back in the day. Ringo, "Mr. Metronome " for his fills, Neil Pert for the ability to use his kit...Johnny Carson and Sammy Davis Jr...were surprisingly good drummers of the day. My favorite drum solo, Inna Godiva Vida. Rich is why I played drums, I tried to emulate all.

A big favorite at concerts was the band's West Side Story with some of the best Buddy Rich solos ever. I am so amazed of his left hand, none like it with blazing speed. Yes, I'm a Buddy Rich fan... AND I do believe he's the best ever....

Got to see Buddy at Disneyland in the 70’s, sat right in front of him. There are some RU-vid clips of it. He was the GOAT.

It's the 1930's. You're at the Savoy Ballroom. Chic Webb, the bandleader of one of the Savoy's house bands, goes into a solo on his drum set. I'd bet that, for the next few years, or perhaps for the rest of your life, you would probably believe that you have seen the very best there has ever been done on a set of drums.

The world is filled so many GOATS. We should appreciate all them.

dextrous and light touches complimented the speed and power. always something new with every listen. everything changed with buddy.

In the early 1950s, on the Verve Label, there is a drum battle between Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. I purchased this recording when I was in a music appreciation course at UCLA. I was a big jazz fan and thought that Gene Krupa was the greatest drummer of all time. After listening to the drum battle, I was blown away by Buddy Rich. I realized Buddy Rich was the greatest jazz drummer of all time. Yes, I did the same thing you are doing now. Looking for a better drum in any form of music. 50 years later my opinion has not changed. Buddy Rich is the GOAT.

He makes me cry everytime I watch him.

Had the honor to see him live when I was a teenager. AMAZING.... BUDDY RICH THEN Y EL ESTEPARIO SIBERIANO TODAY. , THEN EVERYBODY ELSE.. !!!!

There were great drummers like Chick Webb, Louis Bellson, Dave Tough, etc.. Buddy was a head of the game with his skills. He never made music, He reacted to it and played it head on. It didn't matter if it was with sticks or brushes. HE could paint such pictures with his skills and music.

Buddy was and still is the best drummer of all time. It was once asked if Buddy set a high bar for all drummer's, the answer: Buddy is the bar!

Oh, let's not forget Sammy Davis, Jr.! A MULTI-talented entertainer included drums. Anyway, the list continues - though NOT endless! 'nuf said, ALOHA 4 now...😉👍

Fond memories as a 14 year old lad in 1957 hearing "Down For Double" and still get a thrill. Double this with Louis Bellson's "For Europeans Only" and your heart sings all day.

Not my favorite drummer but I do believe he is the GOAT. My favorite drummer Neal Peart felt the same way.

IMHO, he is the GOAT! NO question about it.

Beyond being phenomenal, he put out some albums of his band. Check out Mercy, Mercy and the Keep the Customer Satisfied. Two really great big band albums.

I’m 65, and even a kid, I knew he was something else. I guess I first heard him when my parents watched The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. He was The Cat!

Buddy Rich IS the best drummer I have ever seen.

Big Fan ..... He came to my school in 1982 with the orchestra..... Amazing! He would yell out from the drum kit if the spotlight wasn't on the soloist.... During the performance..... Yes best drummer!

Some people have said it's Louie Bellson.Some critics have tried to say it's Max Roach or a few others.They're all wrong.Buddy was and still is the greatest.

É incredibile la velocità la compostezza lo stile la potenza e la versatilità. Ho decine di video di 'Buddy's solos'. Non ce n'è uno uguale all'altro. Tutti diversi. E sono tantissimi. Non una nota fuori posto "INCREDIBLE DRUMMER'. He is really the G O A T !!!

We’re all Buddy Rich fans, that’s why we’re here 😊

Be real, there are drummers and then there is Buddy Rich. Just look at his face, this is one badass musician.

No rock drummers ever come anywhere near his skills and speed!

Buddy Rich has been a major influence of mine growing up playing the drums for the last 35 years and counting. Unfortunately right now I am healing up from a injury to my foot recently so my new drum videos are put on hold for another week or two. I'll be back in action very soon. 😁🤘

He is the reason I play drums

He just had fun playing the drums He so fast he's gotta be the fastest drummer😮😮😮🎉🎉🎉

Life long fan of Buddy, I saw him many times perform with his big band in the 1970’s Look at his fingers He controls the rebound if the stick. He was the best.

I saw Buddy live at knotts berry farm back in the 70s a free show and it was unreal how good he was.

A major fan for over 50 years now.... Loved the album "Stick It" from back in the early 70's. Big band jazz at the highest level.... There is nothing like it, and now.

In terms of pure talent, yes, Buddy's the GOAT

Yes big fan for 60 years

Yes Buddy Rich is king of the drummers,absolutely amazing

That's great to see someone young bringing this back to life.

Buddy Rich is fantastic. You should listen to Carl Palmer from the band ELP, he is very good.

Best Jazz drummer of all time.

Buddy is simply the best

He was the GOAT!!

Buddy was the best I took my first drum solo after his style

He used to be on tv quite often, even as a kid it was captivating.

Colby, you're a righteous dude and from what I've seen a genuine "Mensch" so I think you should check out all the names which follow in my comment here. Not just the percussionists but the greats with whom they played! I'd love to see you react to Joe Morello playing with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, or react to the Modern Jazz Quartet, and the list goes on. Check out the brothers that came before! There is NO question that Buddy Rich IS and will ALWAYS be the greatest drummer of all time! We all have percussionists we love, given the groups with which they performed and on their own. Greats like, Joe Morello (Take Five, Time Out, Time Further Out: DBQ Dave Brubeck Quartet) Connie Kay who was self-taught and played with the greatest of the greats: Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker & Miles Davis and featured for a career with the MJQ Modern Jazz Quartet. Philly Joe Jones who toured and recorded with the Miles Daves Quintet, and Max Roach who was a pioneer of bebop, a composer and played with too many of the greats to list them all here, but names like Miles Davis, The Duke, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Dinah Washington, Dizzy and on and on and on... These modern times are characterized by a sense of immediacy which means we are often captivated by what IS the NEWEST thing out there on social media and with little, or more often, NO knowledge or understanding of what came before, what made the NOW possible! We are losing a great treasure when we stop looking back and only focus on what is the newest thing! Jorge Garrido is an amazing percussionist and frankly the undisputed BEST at the moment and his skill and sense of time is bar none, on a level of excellence that is un-human, but when we look back at the foundations on which he stands, we have to take pause. El Estepario Siberiano hasn't played with the great Jazz artists of his time, the great Rock/Metal bands of his time, or any other ensembles of note, yet he IS a great percussionist! His ability and sense of time would make it easy for him to fit into any genre of music, yet he hasn't really pursued that, and I give him great credit for carving out his unique place in these Modern Times, in social media. There is NO doubt that he could easily accompany and feature in almost any style of musical expression. Buddy Rich remains the Master, Yoda, GOAT and that won't change until someone comes along who can play across genres with the same facility and ease with which Buddy did and the other percussionists I mentioned, and I did not mention, dozens upon dozens of others.

He had a one of a kind gift from god. And he wore a suit and tie while doing it.

And he isn't even looking at the drums, amazing.

I seen him live one time in Texas at Sheppard AFB, he is the best, amazing!

How is it.. most of these you admit haven't seen.. anybody over the age of 50 has seen these dozens of times.. and now he's been gone almost 40 years nobody yet has mastered his ideas and technique.. I saw him 18 times in the 70's.. and he improved as he got older..

Fan of Buddy Rich. Max Roach, Al Foster, Jack DeJonette, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, and Philly Joe Jones.

Those sticks are moving like the wings of a Hummingbird.

Buddy was the epitome of controlled chaos. Used every bit of the kit, one of the first to use a one handed drum roll with the traditional grip of all things. One of the drawbacks to the era, was the lack of actual tuning that could have led to much better sounding solos. Buddy was not the most perfect when it came to rudiments, but he made up for that with the speed and use of cross overs. He had the fastest single stroke rolls I had and will ever see. Extremely skilled in many areas but rudiments were not a big part of his repertoire. He could give you paradiddles and flamadiddles, but not on the consistently like a Neil Peart, Mike Mangini, or Thomas Lang. I personally believe there is a category for multiple drummers that make it very indistinguishable about who was or is the best.

The dude was the reel thing no! One was as good my bands i was in love this metal drummers need to listen to him maybe they might get it no dub peldil and fastest ever wow !!???? Man ooh man

I loved Buddy's drumming. I first saw him in 1960.

Watch him do what's called the impossible drum solo. It will blow you away!!

I will just agree with Gene Krupa. Gene Krupa once said that Buddy was 'outside of it '. By this he meant, there were drummers and then there was Buddy".

A Drumming God!