Buddy Rich on the Road, 1978

The Buddy Rich Big Band was the last great swing orchestra. The band toured relentlessly in the late 1960s, '70s and '80s, up until Rich's death in 1987. The band's ballads and barn-burners were compelling. What's more, the band had its own sound and featured sterling arrangements and captivating soloists. Rich's '78 band was particularly exceptional, especially on the road. 

Here's the Buddy Rich Big Band in Sweden in '78, with special guest soloists Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis and Harry “Sweets" Edison in Part 2...    

Here's Part 1...



Here's Part 2...



Here's the band at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland in '78...



Here's the band in Nice, France, in '78...



And here's the band at the Umbria Jazz Festival in '78...



Bonus: Here's Buddy Rich's West Side Story Medley in 1968. The arrangement by Bill Reddie was nominated for a Grammy in '67...