Buddy Rich

In this later period, Rich continued to play clubs but he had stated in multiple interviews that the great majority of his big band's performances were at high schools, colleges and universities, with club performances done to a much lesser degree. Rich also served as the session drummer for many recordings, where his playing was often much more understated than in his own big-band performances. Especially notable were Rich's sessions for the late-career comeback recordings of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, on which he worked with pianist Oscar Peterson and his famous trio featuring bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.

Rich's technique, including speed and smooth execution, has been one of the most standardized and coveted in drumming. While Rich typically held his sticks using traditional grip, he could also play using matched grip. One of his party tricks was to cross over his arms while drumming, often to loud cheers from the audience. Another technique he used to impress during his performances was the stick-trick – a fast roll performed by slapping two drumsticks together in a circular motion. Read Less