JAZZ: Musicians to honor Buddy Rich

By Norman Provizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 8, 2009 at 7 p.m.

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Before Buddy Rich was 2, he was on stage as part of his parent's vaudeville act. By the time he was 4, little Rich was playing the drums and tap dancing on Broadway. At 6, the precocious youngster was touring Australia on his own.

When he hit his 20s, in the late 1930s, Rich was playing drums with the swing bands of Harry James, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey, displaying the kind of technical proficiency and explosive power that would earn him a special spot in the music world.

On Thursday, there's a special Gift of Jazz tribute to the mighty drummer, who died in 1987, at East High School, 1600 City Park Esplanade. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and features the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with two drummers, Mike Marlier and Paul Romaine, reminding listeners of Rich's recorded drum battles with Gene Krupa and Max Roach. The East High School Jazz Ensemble led by saxophonist Keith Oxman, who played with the Rich big band, is also on hand to offer its take on the drummer's extroverted sound ($10/$5 students).

Rich formed his first big band in the 1940s. In the late 1950s, he became a regular on the all-star Jazz at the Philharmonic tours; by the mid-1960s, he was back with his own hard-driving big band of young players.

Like his playing, Rich's personality could be overwhelming. Tommy Dorsey once quipped that there were three really evil people in the world - Hitler, Rich and drummer Alvin Stoller - and that Dorsey knew this because he had two of the three in his band. On Thursday, you can forget personality and just focus on the music.

ALSO ON TAP: Alto player Richie Cole - who played with Rich from 1966 to 1974 - wraps up a two-night visit to Dazzle this evening. Cole is in town to help area-based conga player Janine Santana celebrate the release of her CD, Soft as Granite, at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St. ($15, 303-839-5100). Cole's "alto madness" sound is filled with fire and sly good humor - a pretty strong combination. Percussionist Jose Madera, the leader of the Latin Giants of Jazz, joins Santana at 7 and 9 p.m.

* At 7 p.m. Saturday, Dazzle offers area saxophonist Jim Stanahan with a group that has Jeff Jenkins on piano ($10). At 7 p.m. Sunday, Chie Imaizumi brings her small, big band back to Dazzle for the group's monthly visit that never fails to satisfy ($12). Imaizumi is just back from a visit with family in Japan. If you haven't heard her music, it's time for you to fill that hole that exists in your soul.

ON A FINAL NOTE: There are a number of special jazz events in the first part of 2009 that you should mark on your calendar:

* On Jan. 17, the all-star band organized to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records brings its national tour to the Boulder Theater. The group has Ravi Coltrane and Steve Wilson on saxophones, Nicolas Payton on trumpet, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Bill Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash on drums (303-786-7030).

* On Feb. 14, the outstanding and adventurous Either/Orchestra performs at the Newman Center at the University of Denver (303-871-7720).

* On March 25, the all-star 5 Peace Band with pianist Chick Corea, guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta hits the Paramount Theatre (866-461-6556).

* The Boulder Theater celebrates jazz month with Hammond B-3 master Dr. Lonnie Smith on April 1, guitarist Bill Frisell on April 7 and guitarist John Scofield's Piety Street Band on April 29.

normanprovizer@aol.com

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