Playtime / Blues Caravan

For all the power and limitless technique for which he is renowned, Buddy Rich was an enormously intelligent musician who played with finesse, taste and no little humour. His often breath-taking solos were but one aspect of his talent; he was equally revered as an accompanist injecting both swing and impetus while unselfishly allowing the soloists plenty of room to state their respective cases.

These 1961 small-group sessions recorded in Chicago and New York are among the most satisfying and sought-after of the whole Buddy Rich oeuvre, featuring soloists Sam Most on flute and the vibes of twenty-one year old Mike Mainieri, who also provided most of the charts.

In New York, this supremely inventive group is augmented by Swedish trumpeter Rolf Ericson and again play with precision and energy.

Rich particularly admired this recordings' sound quality and with good reason. The Blues Caravan session was produced by the legendary Creed Taylor.