Buddy Rich Centennial Celebration"Big Swing Face" Ken Loomer Big Band

2017 marks the 100th birthday year of the world`s greatest drummer,the one and only Buddy Rich. He was the man that every drummer looked up to as a major influence in their drumming career. Drummers like Dave Weckl,Steve Smith,Butch Miles,Neil Peart,John Bonham,Roy Burns,Carl Palmer,Mitch Mitchell, Gregg Potter,Joe Morello,Louie Bellson,Ed Shaughnessy,Cozy Cole,Ken Loomer and the list goes on and on. For me,Buddy was always about the music and how he could make it sound better with his playing.That is what I learned the most from this master of the drums on how to swing and drive a Big Band to make it exciting for the listeners to hear.Big Swing Face was an album Buddy recorded in 1967"Live" at the Chez club in Hollywood,California. One of the best Big Band records of all time. Big Band concerts are rare today,and having a drummer lead one is almost unheard of today.In honor of Buddy`s 100th birthday year, I choose to play Big Swing Face,a song composed and arranged by Bill Potts. The featured soloist are Tony Castellano Jr. on piano and Mike Gibilisco on tenor sax. Thanks to these wonderful and exciting musicians,I`m able to keep the sound of a modern swinging Big Band alive today.It`s getting harder to find jobs in todays market, but what I learned from Buddy is not to let anyone say Big Band music is dead. The reason I have my Big Band is because of Buddy Rich who showed me the way that it could be done. I will always honor Buddy by playing his music,and in the Buddy way,find new charts with new arrangers who will continue to write exciting charts. My job as a drummer and band leader is to make sure I hire the best musicians and play at the highest level possible. So lets celebrate the 100th birthday year of Buddy Rich in 2017 by playing his music and keeping the sound of a roaring Big Band alive today. For my bio,go to kenloomer.com.