Buddy Rich Tribute in London

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The unforgettable music made famous by the legendary Buddy Rich(1917-1987) Superbly re-created by The Pete Cater Big Band at Cadogan Hall, London, Monday, October 1st 2007. September 2007 marks the ninetieth anniversary of the birth of one of the true giants of jazz. Drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich was a product of the swing era, that unique phase in 20th century popular music where virtuosity and popularity went side by side in a manner not seen before or since.

Initially influenced by the founding fathers of swing drumming, legendary names like Gene Krupa, Chick Webb, Jo Jones and Sid Catlett, Rich took key elements of all of these players and emerged as the outstanding drummer of the big band era.

Long after the swing era was just a memory, Rich re-invigorated his career when, in 1966, he formed the big band for which he is best remembered. At a time when big bands had become musical dinosaurs Rich single handedly brought the genre to a whole new generation. This he did by means of an exciting new young band which shunned nostalgia and pastiche, and which played music that was up to date and of its time, without veering off into arcane self-indulgence. All of this coupled with his breathtaking virtuosity at the drums made for some of the most iconic big band music of the 60s and 70s, and the band continued to tour worldwide until Buddy Rich's passing in 1987.

British drummer Pete Cater first took to the stage as leader of his own big band whilst still a teenager. He has had his current band since 1995. This group has appeared all over the UK and beyond and has released three internationally acclaimed CDs, all of which have featured new music that has combined the best of the core values of big bands whilst keeping an eye in a forward direction. Furthermore the band was voted “big band of the year” in 2000. Now, however, he is stepping up to the plate to take on what is arguably the greatest challenge any drummer could undertake. It is an unusual step for Pete Cater and his big band to be performing music from outside their own repertoire and it is testament to his fondness for and knowledge of Rich's music, as well as acknowledging Buddy Rich as being a key formative influence, that he has chosen to make a very limited number of special appearances commemorating the 90th anniversary of the master drummer.

The concert will contain virtually all the best-remembered and most frequently requested items from Rich's repertoire, and is a rare opportunity to hear this repertoire played live exactly as it was intended to sound, and to see a normally sane drummer take his life in his hands!

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