Two completely different personalities. Buddy may have been a hard edged guy but look at the times he grew up in & he could and did constantly prove he could back it up . Arrogant he wasn't as he was all pro & like he once said if your good why not show it . He was according to his wife & daughter a loving father & husband & he was not without compassion . He just didn't put up with shit & he drove his bands as hard as he did himself. You can't compare personalities of people that are from different times. Bottom line is they both changed the drum world in big ways. I'm not a drummer but a guitarist with admiration for two of the best that ever picked up a set of sticks.
@@MeAndTheBoys_ He was of the frame of mind that if he gave 110 &% the band should as well. He sure did have his temper moments but he also praised as much as gave hell. One thing for sure he could & did give it his all all the time & there's no doubt he could back that up. I saw him twice in 69 & in 1970 here in Washington DC. AMAZING musician. Speaking of hard taskmasters what about the late James Brown. He fined his guys when they missed notes or didn't play up to his standards.
@@paullevine1813 Yep,Buddy actually got angry if the players in the band were playing at 50% level. Buddy also helped nurture many musicians. And when Buddy and Sinatra had their own band, Buddy actually helped few players to stand up against Sinatra. Frank was giving a lot of shit to the players,and Buddy many times defended the players. Hhaha,James Brown....the hardest working man in the show business! Yeah,James was also quite a taskmaster when the moment came. You played to the beat in his band too,lol. Imagine being in Buddys or James band? We wouldnt survive for one week,lol They were both men who knew how to make music in the right way. No bullshit, just sheer professionalism.
WTF is with all this Neil hate? So what if he's not friggin Weckl or Colaiuta, he never has represented himself as one of the best drummers in the world (yet we all seem to vote for him in polls), he's a humble guy who pays his respects and uses his fame with Rush to bring attention to music that was pretty much forgotten by everyone else but musicians. I don't give a crap if Neil sucked, or if I could play one o'clock jump better than him, he put himself WAY out of his comfort zone trying some stuff way over his head and he knows it. He brought more attention to Buddy in the last 20 years than anyone else.
I'd love to see Buddy step in and play some classic Rush tunes. He'd be lost just as Peart may have seemed to be, to a lot of the folks on here. Not only that but Peart is 10 times the Human Being that Buddy Rich could ever be. Peart doesn't wear his ego on BOTH sleeves. Not even one sleeve.
Tim Black exactly, people always put it to their skill as musicians, and I know they are both AMAZING, but in comparison by personality, Neil Peart is a nice, humble dude. Buddy Rich was a snob! You know, I mean no disrespect to him, but he was a JAZZ MUSICIAN that stood on an ego bigger that a fat acceptance protest! People always forget that.
@@TimBlackyBlack the hate (i believe) stems from all his canada fanboys who slobber all over his every move and word. He's a good drummer - period... why can't that be accepted?
@@bishlap It clearly comes from somewhere. Idk if it's from, The Great White North. lol I'm sure you remember that tune " Take Off " with Geddy Lee. I think this is just a case of people trying to Beat Somebody Down because they'll NEVER EVER, come close to N. Peart's abilities or achievements.. ttyl T. B.
The members of Buddy Rich's band were very impressed with Neil's playing. What better judge than them? No one knows Buddy Rich music like the people he spent his last 20 years playing with than them. Many musicians are hard to watch, but if you close your eyes, the sound is amazing. So, if watching is "un-jazz-like" just listen!
Whats wrong with neils playing here to the jazz people here? I’m a drummer and I really don’t see anything wrong with his playing. Screw people’s negative comments. Neil is the master and the drumming world will miss him forever
Neil eased into that traditional grip with no problems and looked pretty damn comfortable swingin' with the band. He was a rock drummer, not a jazz drummer. Had he taken that direction as a percussionist, he would have been heralded as one of the best jazz drummers of all time. Farewell to a true King.
Mad Matt Drummer better check out some jazz players playing this piece and then com back to this version The difference is obvious (Big RUSH fan here btw, so spare me the fanboy butthurt reaction)
I'm a hardcore jazz lover and sing its praises all day long. I own rock records but nothing by Rush. I cheer this video and Neil's performance. Jazz isn't elite or exclusionary. It welcomes all to listen, play and enjoy. And, while he is not Jo Jones or Kenny Clarke, Neil could be very easily. He's a rock drummer; he doesn't pretend to be anything else. But to exercise jazz chops is to strive: that, my friends, is Jazz to the heart.
Neil is Neil. Buddy is Buddy. Probably 2 of the most influential Drummers in history. I am Thankful we have all enjoyed both. God Bless both of these inspirational Drummers
Just saw Buddy Rich's version of this. Everything based a little more off the snare and cymbals. Got to say Neil does a fine, interesting and musical rendition of this classic tune. Timing is perfect and his interpretation works beautifully. He's simply a well taught, well practised, natural. A great player.
I don't play drums and I don't know much about jazz, except it's a different genre of music and style. To me, going from one extreme to another on any instrument would put a lot of people out of their comfort zone. To me Neil sounded like any other jazz drummer, if I didn't know he was a prog rock drummer. He sounded great and was humble about it, giving much respect to Buddy Rich. R.I.P. Neil.
Neil Peart and Buddy Rich are two very different drummers with polar opposite personalities. Neil is a extremely meticulous and analytical writer, while Buddy is a wild unpredictable free spirit. There's no way one could imitate the other. I'd bet you they could even piss eachother off. lol.
you know you really got to admire niel. to get out there and expose himself playing way out of his element like this he new the crictisism it would get he new this would cut a chunk out of his "godlike" rep the guys fearless
Intellect, creativity, humility, technical excellence at the highest level and a not common courage to step out his comfort zone and play a swing/jazz style foreign to his body of work as a prog/rock drummer. An admirer of perhaps the greatest drummer of all time, Buddy Rich, Neil, too, is a drummer nonpareil in his own right and a musician/lyricist who has and will influence other musicians well into the future.
I'm getting tired of hardcover jazz fans. You don't here rock musicians saying jazz musicians can't play rock or classical musicians can't play jazz or pop. it's only with jazz fans where they think "if you can't play jazz drumming you arent a good drummer.
The comments on this thread are dumb. True, he isn't nailing the intricacies of the style but this isn't his wheel house. I think it is great of him to jump into a style he isn't familiar with and study it and play it. Great to see someone who dominates their genre of music humble themselves and work on new things
I agree, some if these guys are just down right snobs. As a long time Peart fan, I am taking the same route and getting into other genres. After playing 20 years, I couldn't imagine talking down to another drummer, everyone's playing is as unique as a finger print, and we're all at different levels in our skill set.
Good reply. Neil Peart said it himself many times, he really doesnt know how to play swing style,he just does his best. From what i can see, there is also a problem with this " Neil Peart is god and can play anything,any style "- attitude. These people are hurt by any critique about Neil's playing. Anyone who really takes music seriously and is honest about things, we can see and hear that Neil was absolutely far from his home turf in this one. His playing is rigid and very stiff here. Also he seems to have trouble with integrating the kick and the snare into this song. In rock music his style works much better. But hey, he took a risk here....plus he knew exactly what it will sound and look like. No one is saying that the man was stupid. Neil Peart played swing in his way, and thats it. At least it was in time,thats good,right?
@@highervibetribe9137 All of us critique others, in our minds or out in the open. Personally i think there is a lot to be gained from honest, constructive criticism. But in that case,you should really bring up some real points,not just talk shit. When i heard this performance the first time, it made so uncomfortable i couldn't sit still. I was cringing the whole video thru. That was my honest reaction and still is. Now i can articulate why i don't like this performance. Neil's time was fine here, but the overall stiffness and rigidness gives me anxiety almost.He was always so uptight when he played. Then comes the fact that for the most of the song, he hardly plays the kick drum at all. So the song is missing the drive completely. Later he starts using the kick drum more. Then his snare playing......at the start ,there is no snare at all for a long time. Then when the snare does come in, its just the mandatory hit between 3 & 4. Good thing is that he kept the fills at minimum. When you are not comfortable,just play the beat. I critique all my musical idols any time there is something that i conceive as a bad thing. Then i analyze the thing and see what comes up. I dont care who it is, ill say exactly what i think. Killing our idols, in a sense, its necessary to do if we want to be honest.
And im sure he criticized his playing on this just like he did everything else he played. Always trying to better no matter good it was to the listeners.
One of the best percussionist hands down that ever lived... Period. Neil your passion for playing showed and your expertise and precision stands with the best ever..
This was in 1991 wow... Neil is the main reason why I became a hardcore fan since 79. He's great in anything n everything he does . He played for us... now the angels are playing for him. We'll miss him terribly.
Let's be honest. Neil isn't going to care even slightly about the negative comments. I personally think he did a great job, much better than all you jazz "oracles" could do behind a kit. So until you can get up there, make a tribute to legend and venture out of your comfort zone, keep your mouths shut. This guy is a hero in many more ways other than drumming, keep it real Neil! 😊
dank_asian_snacks What in particular did Mr. Peart do or not do within the context of this song, that didn’t meet your standards? The late great Neil Peart, was recognized as a world class drummer, by many of his professional peers and of course by his many less knowledgeable fans. I just don’t understand all of the negativity towards him. No argument can be made that he was a FANTASTIC Rock Drummer, and after 30 years of mastering that particular genre of music, he completely reinvented his playing style to learn Jazz and Swing ie. changing his grip, movements, time keeping, etc. If that doesn’t allow him the respect of others, I don’t know what would! Even if you don’t like the music of RUSH, you cannot deny the musicianship off it’s three members. Mr. Peart is the lyricist, as well as the drummer, Mr. Alex Lifeson is an extremely underrated guitarist, and finally Mr. Geddy Lee, is another extremely underrated musician. People in the know, respect the fact that he can play the Bass Guitar at a world class level, as well as the Keyboards, Piano, Moog, and Synthesizer at the same world class level, plus being able to sing Mr. Pearts lyrics-oh yeah, let us not forget that he can sing and play the Bass Guitar and one of the other aforementioned Keyed instruments, ALL AT THE SAME TIME! But, this is about the late, great, Mr. Neil ‘The Professor’ Peart...could you please enlighten the forum as to what he did wrong or so obvious in this video/tribute to Buddy Rich, that ruined the essence of this musical tribute? As a drummer myself (And admittedly not anywhere close to this level of skill.) I found Mr. Peart’s interpretation of the musical tribute to be spot on and very accurate to the originals integrity. Thanking you in advance for any response.
James Lynch i alqays wonder how old butthurt guys like you are.... And by your own standards you must be one hell of a human being critizing other people opinions Pratt!
Yeah, hang on. Look at when this was (early 90s). He freely admits that at this time he was too metronomic, hence why he went off and studied under Freddie Grueber (and then Peter Erskine a few years back) to become better at swing and such forth.
Exactly. Honest answer. Every actual,serious musician can hear that Neil is definitely out of his range here. Its not a crime to not know every style .
@pgdrums12 Steve Smith is indeed a fine drummer but anyone who claims that Peart is a "joke"... it is impossible to take them seriously. Try growing up, dropping the "mine is better than yours" childishness and learn to appreciate the different skills everyone brings... who knows, you might actually learn something.
Tears of happiness, watching him play. Tears of sadness, knowing he's gone. Forever missed, yet still learning from you daily, through your words and your drumming. R.I.P. Professor Neil Peart. 🤘🏻❤️💔🥁🥁🥁🥁💔❤️🤘🏻
I never realized how tall Neil must have been - he positively towered over this little jazz kit ! I have to give him a LOT of credit for going all in like this in what must have been far out of his normal comfort zone, out of love for music and for Buddy in particular. Neil was a genius in many ways, a gentle soul with an unquenchable thirst for musical knowledge. In his own exploration he left us a legacy that will live on for many many years. Neil may not have even realized that he was yet another shining star in the same musical cosmos where he searched for Buddy.
If you were lucky enough to attend any Tonight Show tapings (I was so lucky), this is the style of music you heard from Doc and the guys during commercial breaks and the warm up. Fine music, finely done. Neal sure got it, and got it quick. :)
Ed Shaughnessy played "Shawnee" on the first Burnin' for Buddy CD & his experience playing both with Buddy in drum "battles" plus his versatility playing with many different artists on the Tonight Show makes his rendition & interpretation one of the best songs on that CD. Joe Morello playing A Train is great too.
Thats right ! No matter what kind of music you playing, music is music, drumming is drumming. Each drummer presents own unique technique and style of playing. Mr. Neil Peart brings us unique sounds of drums, honey on the heart and ear, beautiful. Thanks for sharing this video.
No reason for the snobbery! He is the consummate professional and paid tribute! The most important to realize is he stepped out of his comfort zone to pay tribute and respect. Show some love!
I love this, and was raised listed to all music, starting with classical. This moments in life are an opportunity for folks who are mastros in their owns own fields to try something different. It is a good intro for folks who listen mainly to rock to try something different, and grow.
I know a lot of Jazz drumming aficionados knock this, but Peart did a great job here not having any "swing" background to speak of etc. He went on to improve more after this (as if he needed too) remember a video of him talking about moving his Ride cymbal over more, to add to the fluidity of what he was playing etc. One of a kind, both Buddy and now Neil are sorly missed. 🥁
Maybe all "great players" here that are criticizim Neil's ability to play drums (there are people saying this) should try to decently play 2112, La Villa Strangiato, Hemispheres, Jacob's Ladder, Cygnus X-1, Xanadu, Subdivisions, YYZ or any other song of Rush's epic catalog. I guarantee it's such a big challenge for anyone. This guys is one of the greatest drummers ever. This is a fact and even if you don't like his playing you must agree. He created such epic riffs and lyrics, and inspired a hole generation of musicians. And he's a great human being as well. Respect.
+maujagua Exactly. Jazz and rock are different mentalities. The more I got into jazz playing the more I sucked at rock and vice versa. Neil Peart is a great drum composer and a lot of great jazz players with stellar chops can learn from him. I feel the same way about Lars Ulrich who gets a lot of knocks but he composed great drum parts.
+maujagua I agree. Without Neil, Rush would only have had one recognizable song, "Working Man" Buddy Rich was one of Neil's idols, and he wanted to pay tribute. So he swings like a rusty gate, whatever. He's still one of the most influential rock drummers out there.
***** Yeah right. That must be why he was invited. It is very disrespectful to open up a huge fan base, being the Rush fans, who wouldn't normally listen to this type of music to Buddy's legacy and acknowledging his influence. Bad Neil. Bad Neilly Perts.
***** Actually after my comment I thought about how Buddy would have reacted if this were not a tribute but just some guy sitting in for him. Buddy could be an asshole (not necessarily a bad thing if uncompromising) and there is audio tape to prove it so I wouldn't put it passed him to scold Neilly and I can easily imagine how it would go. That would be a great RU-vid video. Neil's playing is rigid in a sense which lends itself to progressive rock but not swing so much however, after some practice time w/ Buddy's band I'm sure he would have adapted his playing into something really amazing that swings. He has a signature that could find it's way in that style if he choose. The band could also have easily adapted to his style w/ practice.
And everyone applauding wildly at the end of his slot obviously don't know what they're doing? Nah; how's about all the negative comments about having "no swing" are actually just from precious jazz cunts who don't like the myth that rock drummers can't handle it? Sad sacks.
Jazz music fan boys are so exclusive when it comes to playing. If your not a jazz musician, they believe you are less then them. And those people can't call themselves jazz musicians if they are in the comment section hating on other musicians. Jazz isn't just for people who play mostly jazz. But its for anyone. If people keep hating on other people trying. Then Jazz is for sure doomed to die.
Neil's achieved what he has in music on his intelligence and pure love of music. he really doesn't have talent, that's just how brilliant he is, that's just how much he loves it. brings a tear to my eye.
Fantastic job Neal. Buddy would have been proud. To all of those with negative comments about Neal Peart, lets see you do better. Nah I didnt think so. Shaddup and just enjoy.
Funny how all the jazz drummers criticize him yet they cant play shit compared to Peart, try having a go at La villa Strangiato, YYZ, Xanadu, Cygnus X-1 etc. Neil deserves a Tribute of his own. Neil is more than a drummer, I don't remember Buddy rich writing 10 books in his lifetime....Long live The Greatest drummer ever.
jazz drummers like buddy and dave weckl can easily play all those intricate rush songs if they wanted to within a week and they might come up with better fills..parts...and FEELs. neil can also be like buddy or weckl but after decades of refining his stiff technique and feel first....seems gruber and erskine failed to teach lol!
I don't find any reason to compare. Neil and Buddy possess two uniquely different styles. Thus I choose to appreciate them for their individuality, as well as the unique manner of how they approach this wonderful instrument...
To all the people who left negative comments about Neil's playing......None of you could even carry his lunch box.....let alone play on the same continent as him. If you could play drums at all.
Irrelevant. Whether I'm a good painter doesn't impinge on my ability to be an art critic. All I need is comparative experience of different types of art and I can draw an impression of who achieves their aims the most convincingly. NP is one of my favourite rock drummers but he can't do jazz yet. He's too stiff, exacting and obviously practised, just like Rush in fact but there are horses for courses. I just like the fact that he's taking time to learn new disciplines. When a man's education is finished, he is finished!
Listen to the dude, don't watch him. It looks terrible. The stiffest body language possible for a drummer. But listen. He is actually good. Yes, it appears programmed, but I believe this is from watching Neil. They should hide him, period.
Neil is a great drummer, one of the most influential that ever lived. His playing defined the 80's rock and will forever be copied. Will all that being said... swing and jazz are a whole different animal. It's just not his thing. He spent his whole life learning how to be original not how to play others music.
I love jazz, but some people here are an embarrassment to jazz for criticizing Mr Peart. He honestly sounds great. Get off your damn high horses. Stop thinking you’re better than everyone else just because you like jazz. You’re not special. Get over yourselves. I honestly think Neil is the best of all time. RIP to an absolute legend
Well spoken! I imagine that if this were audio only and the "jazz folks" didn't know who was playing, I'll bet they'd sing his praises instead of acting like pretentious asses.
NP is my fav, and i agree with some of the comments, he does not groove or swing like Steve Smith, but that does not make him a bad drummer. this is not his area, but kudos to him for doing this at all!! shows how much this style of music means to him, and as we all know he has incorporated big band at the end of his solos. no need to hate, just recognize whats happening is all.
All I see are comments stating how wrong the negative comments are, but the actual negative comments themselves are nowhere to be found. Good job team!
Neil is such a serious student that he continued learning. If he had spent the same amount of time with say Kenton, Brubeck he would indeed be a jazz drummer and a good one...because Neil is a workhorse...doesn’t take the musical it for granted and would perfect the styles used. Good playing is also habit of good practicing. There are drummers who have perfect ride cymbal beat and timing...they have taught the technique...I would just show how to « close » the cymbal beat to the ride to play tighter in the time and talk about loose fulcrum for bounce. So I hope that Neil is continuing to play in the Upper Room...he deserves the spot for many reasons...
A lot of people are hating on Peart here. I don't think his intentions were to replicate Buddy Rich's playing. Everybody will play with their own style. That style may not fit the music and/or your liking. Yeah, Peart is a rock drummer, not a jazz drummer. Needless to say, he still performed well here. Remember, you're comparing to Buddy Rich of all people.
Only a master would put his reputation on line to do something just to promote the work of someone else he admired. I was there that day, and Neal deserved the admiration of the other so called jazz players, in my humble opinion, because none of them could have been a drummer for Rush and none of them had the talent to write inspirational lyricks like those he influenced miilions of kids around the globe with. Neal is a master like no one.
As Rush fans we call him the God of Thunder. As overs of music, we call him generationless. He is beyond good, he took lessons just recently for the third time. Go flick your ego in the back yard, he has none.
Also, Neil has been documented as saying he too was not happy with his performance at this event and it was part of what inspired him to begin taking lessons from Freddie Gruber (RIP) and later Peter Erskine
Check out the one and only Neil Ellwood Peart rockin' the good ol' traditional grip behind a '4-piece! Now, as for all the Buddy detractors here who complain he was a jerk, a prima-donna, and whatever else, you're all correct...up to a point. Most of those who worked with Buddy agreed he was a demanding person to work for. If you played with him, he expected you to be ALL ON at ALL TIMES. There was no reason for you to slack off, because Buddy never did. Offstage, he was extremely gracious and grateful to his fans.
As I recall, early in his career, Buddy kicked a young Anthony Jackson out of a gig because Buddy didn't feel AJ was properly prepared for the music. It was something AJ never forgot, and never let it happen again.
I think that Neil is one of the finest rock players on the planet but he swings like a wrecking ball!! All of the people defending him and saying that this is good must not have ears. Shut your eyes and just listen, and then listen to Buddy play the same song.
+Fletcher Nugent I have to apologize in advance because I dont listen to much jazz or swing, that used to be all I listened to and those drummers like Rich and krupa were my inspirations but I know nothing really about jazz. But I need to say that I thought Neil did great, granted he played the same parts over and over again but I dont see what the problem was.
You guys who are being critical forget something: this was before Neil did his work with Freddie Gruber. His style improved dramatically and he shed a lot of his stiffness. Neil was better, but not perfect, at a 2008 tribute to Buddy. Of course, he also took lessons from Peter Eskine prior to the show, too.
As much as Neil was my childhood hero drummer, along with Buddy Rich, he wasn't comfortable doing this, and it showed. And I'm sure that Buddy would have been as uncomfortable playing YYZ, which was not at all his style either. To each their own. But it was nice of Neil to pay tribute to his childhood hero drummer. I miss them both now that Neil is gone too. RIP Neil Peart.
