Buddy Rich - At the Top DVD

This vintage performance by Buddy Rich and his band in Rochester puts the master's skills on display. At 55, he showed no signs of slowing down and his band, featuring the equal brilliance of the legendary Pat LaBarbara on tenor sax, sounds crisp and solid while performing in rather tight surroundings, typical of a club setting. The video quality, however, isn't the best and the sound could be better, but remember this was taped in 1972 before the advent of high-tech recording equipment. The narration at the beginning didn't really add a lot to the DVD, but I did enjoy Buddy fooling around on the piano and the trumpet early in the tape. The added features and interview with Buddy being Buddy were also fun to see. All in all, this is a must for any Buddy fans to own. Yes, it has its shortcomings, but it does show Buddy at his peak.

THAT IS A QUOTE FROM GENE KRUPA HIMSELF! i GET TIRED OF PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON COMPARING BUDDY WITH GENE OR WORSE RINGO{COME ON MAN WHERE ARE YOUR EARS? IT'S POINTLESS AND IGNORANT TO COMPARE BUDDY WITH RINGO IN ANY DIMENSION, ONE IS A ROCK DRUMMER THE OTHER IS A BIG BAND DRUMMER! FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE LIKE THE POSTER WHO DID THE ORIGINAL COMPARISON - LET'S JUST SAY THEY ARE WORLDS APART! THE VERY IDEA TO SUGGEST BUDDY IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM SHOULD TAKE A BACK SEAT TO EITHER JOE JONES KRUPA AND OF ALL THE DRUMMERS RINGO STAR IS SICK!i JUST DON'T GET A PERSON WHO MAKES IDIOTIC STATEMENTS LIKE THAT.. THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO i THINK THAT EVERY DRUMMER SHOULD OWN IT THE AUDIO COULD BE BETTER BUT IT'S NOT BAD FOR 1973! GROW UP PEOPLE, WHAT? DO YOU REALLY NEED EVERYTHING TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS MIXED BY THE GRP GROUP? USE YOUR BRAINS, IT WAS RECORDED IN 1973..GIMME A BREAK WITH THE "i NEED EVERYTHING PERFECT" JIVE

It's always a joy watching and listening to Buddy play, but most of the video clips of him are on various composite videos, such as "Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles" (ASIN B00005RDSJ) and its companion Volume II (ASIN B00006EDPF). In those, and similar videos Buddy's pyrotechnic drumming is showcased, but his overall playing is lost in the dazzle.

This video, however, shows his genius with subtle shades, amazing rhythm and his mastery of bass beats (he does amazing things with a single pedal that is not apparent unless you listen carefully).

Complaints about the audio quality are valid. This DVD could have been much better. And, to be sure, I would have loved more shots of him playing so I could match his moves to the sounds he was producing. However, it is the way the entire band melds together and how Buddy supports the group instead of forcing the attention on his drumming alone that makes this video so valuable. I sat back and enjoyed the music for what it was - superbly played music by a superb cast of musicians that happened to include one of the best drummers ever. Taken in that context this is a wonderful video, which is made all the more wonderful by the West Side Story segment.

If you are a Buddy Rich fan you will love this DVD despite the minor complaints I have both echoed and cited. You will also find a lot of great material on the official Buddy Rich website that is operated by his daughter (paste the ASIN number, B0000A36LU, into the search box on this page, select All Products and click on the Go button).

I think this is one of Buddy's finest concerts but the audio
quality on the DVD is crap.
I hope the VHS version is better.

This video has the perfect title.(RICH AT THE TOP) Buddy Rich is without question the greatest drum technician the world has ever known ! I have seen this video hundreds of times, and every time I'm more amazed what a geniuses this man is. The West Side story solo is totally amazing. What singles, what style, what a left hand. If there is anyone out there that thinks that he could actually play(after watching this) should check himself into a psychiatric hospital. As for that reviewer who thinks that Philly Joe Jones and many other drummers could make the drums seeing better than Buddy Rich ? All I have to say is,You obviously don't play the drums and you never Understood the genius of Buddy Rich ! Guy.