Arguably the greatest jazz drummer ever recorded, Buddy Rich was performing on vaudeville stages at 18 months old and never stopped until his death 70 years later. His supernatural technique—phenomenal speed, precision, and dynamic control—came entirely from natural talent, with Rich famously never taking a lesson or practising outside of performance.

Rich's career spanned the entire history of modern jazz. He powered Tommy Dorsey's swing orchestra from 1939, backed bebop revolutionaries Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in 1950, and engaged in legendary drum battles with Gene Krupa and Max Roach that remain essential listening. His drum-to-drum exchanges with Krupa on their 1956 collaboration album defined competitive virtuosity in jazz.

From 1966 until his death, Rich led consistently excellent big bands during an era when such ensembles had fallen from fashion. His Pacific Jazz recordings from this period showcase a demanding perfectionist who pushed his young musicians to match his relentless energy. The result: some of the most exciting big band recordings of the 1960s and 70s, featuring arrangements that balanced power with sophistication.

His legendary West Side Story medley and performances of Bill Reddie's Channel One Suite remain benchmarks for big band drumming, whilst his earlier Verve small-group dates reveal a more nuanced, responsive accompanist.