Louie Bellson, recientemente fallecido, en el concierto en memoria de Buddy Rich tocando con la B.R. Big Band. Louie Bellson, recently passed out, live at Buddy Rich Memorial playing with B.R. big Band.
Louis once did a 3 bass drum solo. Laid the way for all us soloing drummers with Skin Deep. Also a perfect gentleman and a master of the Moeller technique. Keith Moon was a total nutter- great open rock drummer but wouldn't have known a paradiddlediddle if it bit him on the ass , but he wouldn't have cared less anyway.RIP Keith and Louis and thanks to both of them for enriching the drummer's world.
I am always amazed at these guys that feel like BIG IMPORTANT NERDS putting down great musicians. If the truth be known they couldn't carry their stick bag or horn case. Show us your resume and what makes you the great critic.
Although Louis was the pioneer of double bass drums and large extended drum kits... many drummers have caught up with this now, it doesn't seem so special. The thing that really stands out for me about Louis is his fantastic snare drum technique. Fast, crisp and clean - gorgeous!
Buddy Rich was known for many more years starting as a child sensation from 1917, but Louie Bellson was also amazingly fast and didn't stray from the back beat rhythm as much during his solos. He shared the lime light well with the other highly skilled musicians in his band. If Buddy Rich ever needed a day off, Bellson was the obvious choice for his replacement. This was OUTSTANDING as a fitting tribute to the late great Buddy Rich.
***** Not that I ever heard off, but there is a video that shows them both in a match for match drum off (maybe on the Johny Carson show.) Louie had his own smaller jazz for a number of years.
+MrDeppness Yes, Louie did fill in for Buddy a few times... not that Buddy took many days off. Late in his career Buddy took one of the great Ellington drummers, Sam Woodyard, on tour with him as a conga player. I often wondered if this was to cover for him if he became ill or had another heart attack? I don't know if Woodyard ever played with the band on stage behind the drum kit.
He's a old man here...He always was great ! The comment on Keith Moon Vs. Bellson...well you can't go there. A drummer vs a artist drummer,what you smoking. This is jazz,not rock that everybody plays. Loved it thanks !!!
Fuckkkkkkkkkk me ! he is amazing !! he is the only modern era driummer than can play lie Buddy , u see all the other contemporary players struggle playing Buddy except maybe Dave Weckl ..Fuck Louie Bellson is a freak ! LEGEND!
I have watched and listened to all the guest drummers sitting in with the Buddy Rich Big Band at the memorial concert. Most of them are fusion or fusion-rock musicians, and all are great in their own genre, but none of them had the same feel or connection to the band like Louie. Buddy and Louie were born to play this stuff.
Louie must have been one of the few drummers from that golden era of drummers, to use the big kits. Most back then used 4 or 5 piece kits and a lot fewer cymbals.
Well and don't forget that Louie's kit was much smaller in the old days. There were times when he had one mounted tom, a floor tom, snare, and 2 bass drums. It grew it modern years.
Louis Bellson is one of the greatest Jazz drummers ever. His drumming is absolutely flawlessly attuned to Jazz and big band music. I've seen tapes of his drum battles with Buddy Rich. Personally I think Bellson was at least as good and sometimes better. Comparing Louis Bellson to Keith Moon is completely unfair and irrelevant. From 1968 until 1973 Moon was at the height of his creative powers. Check out his performance with the Who at the Tanglewood Music Shed on July 7, 1970 (the performance is usually available on RU-vid). His percussive performance is simply outstanding: fluid, powerful and wildly creative. I had the pleasure of seeing Moon live (with the Who) on several occasions; 1969 (the Grande Ballroom Detroit, MI), 1970 (Tanglewood Lenox, Mass), 1971 (Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI), 1973 (Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI) and 1975 (Silverdome, Pontiac, MI). Yes, his success and the Rock and Roll lifestyle ultimately killed him but he was one of the greatest rock drummers ever.
@zildj1an I should have also mentioned that I feel the same way about John Bonham. Another great rock drummer who died at age 32 due to his alcohol addiction.
Anyone comparing people like Keith Moon to Louie Bellson.I dare you to find the 1st beat of Louie´s soloing and go with it,see what you find.Do the same with Moon and tell me which has more ideas,feel and MUSIC. I dare you.
Regarding Keith Moon, the great Tony Williams once described Moon's drumming as "beautiful and totally free". Also, after a blind listening session of the drumming of Keith Moon, the fabulous Elvin Jones stated "that man's a drummer". Contrary to popular belief Moon knew most of the drum rudiments but rarely used them. Early in his career he practiced relentlessly and for a time took drum lessons from Carlo Little and sought out lessons from Philly Joe Jones. After watching Moon play and learning how much money he [Moon] was making, Jones told him to keep his money because "anything I'd teach you will spoil what you're doing".
Keith moon a good rock drummer who could only fit in with The Who. His wild all over the place at random style worked for that band. No real precision or techniques. Not to mention on some sort of drug during each performance and was unreliable. But yeah, he was an artist. Louie Bellson was clear minded, focused, disciplined at any age. Didn't do drugs. Maybe didn't touch a drop either. He was a Christian man with Christian morals. He was second, only to Buddy Rich. The only one that Buddy would have stand in for him when he was out due to illness. He was great to listen to, to watch, at any speed, velocity or technique that he incorporated into his performances. John Bonham was great too and will probably be most remembered for his incredibly strong, fast single bass pedal work. Wish he could have laid off the liquor. But that was his style. Bonham and booze. Moon and Meth(or whatever he did).
forget the comparisons with the likeable clown moon.this man is the business buddy rich said it[buddy was more likely to put somebody down]l.o.l.kieth moon was entertaining in his own field.this is the one and only louis bellson.
Louie has a lot more drums and cymbals than buddy . Buddy was the best on a 4 piece trap set and louie was the best with double bass and a full set, but Simon Phillips is still my favorite because of open hand playing
Now THAT's more like it. This is the way drums SHOULD sound in a big band, open and singing, especially paying tribute to Buddy. Gadd & Bissonette, didn't get it, Vinnie played beautifully but toms are too thuddy sounding. Thatnks Louie !!
@gimli1980 Good post. Comparing Keith Moon to Louis Bellson is ridiculous. Totally different styles (and life styles). I'm afraid my original post was a bit too acerbic. I'm more of a jazz guy, but I must admit that Keith Moon was one of my favorite rock drummers back in the day. I guess I'm just pissed off more about his life style; he should have been playing for much longer. I feel the same way about the great jazz alto player, Charlie Parker, who died at age 34 due to his addictions.
The guys all had a set down front when each drummer was being showcased. But for the Buddy Rich Big band concert, Louis played the drum parts for the whole concert, and the 2nd set was used for that, in it's more normal placement for a show.
Keith Moon?! Give me a break! How dare you compare Louie Bellson to Keith Moon! You're damn right he's no Keith Moon, and thank God. Keith Moon was a drugged-out alcoholic who just beat the shit out of his drums for show and died at the age of 32 back in 1978. Louie, on the other hand, was a phenomenal drummer and composer, lived a good productive life, and died at the ripe old age of 84 in February 2009. Keith Moon my ass!!!
@zildj1an I agree with you on one thing: there is no comparison between Moon and Bellson, that's for sure... On the other hand, have some respect. If there's one thing that I know for certain, it's that there will NEVER be another drummer like Keith Moon. I don't mean in terms of better or worse, I mean in terms of particular style. Most rock drummers nowadays probably have some influence by Moon. So by insulting him and his style, you're also insulting MANY great drummers...
@zildj1an calm down. Keith Moon was a great rock drummer. No, he shouldn't be compared to Bellson but Moon made his own legacy. Yes, he had drug/booze issues but so didn't Dave Tough. Bellson, Tough, Moon, etc. all share the same legacy and that is being important drummers for their chosen field of music. End of story.
