Speak No Evil/Plays and Plays and Plays

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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
This fifth chapter in B.G.O.'s Buddy Rich reissue project contains two mid-'70s albums that are very different from one another in flavor, production, and material. The first of these, Speak No Evil, is one of Rich's experiments. He hired famed Chicago producer, composer, and arranger Richard Evans for the sessions and called his unit, Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine. Momentarily taken with the sounds of Creed Taylor's CTI and the emerging jazz-funk of the day, Rich and Evans put their own spin on the music with a stellar band. Some of the soloists in this group were Jon Faddis, Steve Marcus, Kenny Barron (on Fender Rhodes), Lew Soloff, and Ross Traut. The bassist for ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
This fifth chapter in B.G.O.'s Buddy Rich reissue project contains two mid-'70s albums that are very different from one another in flavor, production, and material. The first of these, Speak No Evil, is one of Rich's experiments. He hired famed Chicago producer, composer, and arranger Richard Evans for the sessions and called his unit, Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine. Momentarily taken with the sounds of Creed Taylor's CTI and the emerging jazz-funk of the day, Rich and Evans put their own spin on the music with a stellar band. Some of the soloists in this group were Jon Faddis, Steve Marcus, Kenny Barron (on Fender Rhodes), Lew Soloff, and Ross Traut. The bassist for this date -- on an electric Fender -- was Bob Cranshaw. There was also a trio of backing vocalists on some cuts! The material ranged from Evans' classic title track to covers of the Isley Brothers' "Fight the Power" (a radical, and utterly pleasing, arrangement), the Earth, Wind & Fire nugget "Yearnin' Learnin'," the Pointers' "How Long," "Games People Play," and even a medley of Gino Vanelli tunes in "Storm at Sunup" and "Love Me Now." The sound is tight, in the pocket, and full of mean grooves, intriguing colors and textures, and seriously popping horns. Evans transforms Rich's swinging jazz sound into something that was not only extremely contemporary for the time, but sounds unique today: this date would have been right at home on MPS at the time as well. It's partially the mix, since Rich's drums were mixed as part of the band rather than as as a front instrument. The latter album, Buddy Rich Plays and Plays and Plays, recorded two years later, was a much more straight-ahead big-band date with a group that came to be known as his "Class of '77." It featured a number of arrangers including Bob Mintzer, Sam Nestico, Dick Lieb, Phil Wilson, Lou Marini, and Don Menza. Soloists include Mintzer, Marcus, Steve Khan, Ross Konikoff, and Rick Stepton. Marcus and Mintzer were both Rich veterans, but there were more newcomers; all of whom were capable, hard swinging players. In other words, no weak links. Recorded live in the studio by Norman Schwartz, the session features excellent arrangements and performances of Thelonious Monk's "Round About Midnight" and Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life," along with new compositions by Mintzer, Menza, and Nestico. The mix has Rich's drums way up in the mix and as was traditional, pushing the band from the front end. This date will be far more satisfying to those whose tastes run toward standard progressive big-band material, but it's Speak No Evil that is easily the more exciting of the two albums included here.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/9/2010
  • Label: Bgo - Beat Goes On
  • EAN: 5017261209627
  • Catalog Number: 6120962
  • Sales rank: 138,264

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Speak No Evil - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (3:48)
  2. 2 Yearnin' Learnin' - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (5:40)
  3. 3 Medley: Storm at Sunup/Love Me Now - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (11:03)
  4. 4 Fight the Power - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (6:02)
  5. 5 Games People Play - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (3:58)
  6. 6 Sophisticated Lady (She's a Different Lady) - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (3:07)
  7. 7 Sneakin' Up Behind You - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (3:24)
  8. 8 How Long (Betcha Got a Chick) - Buddy Rich & the Big Band Machine (3:54)
Disc 2
  1. 1 Ya Gotta Try (3:36)
  2. 2 Tales of Rhoda Rat (7:53)
  3. 3 'Round About Midnight (6:46)
  4. 4 Time Out (5:42)
  5. 5 No Jive (5:55)
  6. 6 Lush Life (4:07)
  7. 7 Party Time (5:34)
  8. 8 Kong (4:58)
  9. 9 Mickey Mouse (2:38)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Buddy Rich Primary Artist, Drums, Soloist
Gwen Guthrie Vocals
Jon Faddis Trumpet, Soloist
Steve Khan Guitar, Soloist
Bob Mintzer Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Soloist
Lew Soloff Trumpet, Soloist
Ross Traut Guitar, Soloist
Howard Johnson Tuba
Steve Marcus Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soloist
Danny Moore Trumpet, Soloist
Rhetta Hughes Vocals
Turk Mauro Baritone Saxophone, Soloist
Bob Cranshaw Bass
Wayne Andre Trombone, Soloist
Kenny Barron Electric Piano, Soloist
Crusher Bennett Conga
David Boyle Bass Trombone
Vivian Cherry Vocals
Joe Farrell Tenor Saxophone, Soloist
Alan Gauvin Saxophone
Lani Groves Vocals
Morris Jennings Percussion, Drums
Barry Kiener Keyboards
Ross Konikoff Trumpet, Soloist
Will Lee Bass
Dean Palanzo Saxophone
Victor Paz Trumpet
Dean Pratt Trumpet, Soloist
Joshua Rich Guitar
Janice Robinson Trombone
Clinton Sharman Trombone
Rick Stepton Trombone, Bass Trombone, Soloist
David Tofani Alto Saxophone, Soloist
Mauro Turso Saxophone
Lonnie Groves Vocals
Dave Taylor Trombone
David Stahl Trumpet
Josh Brown Vocals
Robert Mintzer Saxophone
Jonathan Burr Bass
Jerry Dodgian Alto Saxophone, Soloist
Tom Malone Trombone, Soloist
Erroll Bennett Percussion
John Marshall Trumpet, Soloist
Technical Credits
Don Menza Arranger, Composer
Bob Mintzer Arranger
Phil Wilson Arranger
Richard Evans Arranger, Producer
Keith Grant Engineer
Barry Kiener Arranger
Dick Lieb Arranger
Bob Ludwig Mastering
Lou Marini Arranger
Thelonious Monk Composer
Mike Moran Engineer
Gus Mossler Remixing
Sammy Nestico Arranger
Norman Schwartz Producer
Billy Strayhorn Composer
Bill Traut Producer
Mort Goode Liner Notes
John Tobler Liner Notes
Pat Martin Engineer
Acy Lehman Art Direction
Vanelli Composer
Andrew Thompson Remastering
Stanislaw Fernandes Cover Art
Dick Smith Art Direction
Nestico Composer
Brecker Composer
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