Louis Bellson

[tubemusic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQWaCLlK9Y

Saw this for the first time Last night. Amazing drummer. I have been looking for a jazz drummer that played double bass. Now to find some albums. Any recommendations?

 

[Cactus Bob]

Ed Shaughnessy played with double bass drums.

 

[jgannon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQWaCLlK9Y

Saw this for the first time Last night. Amazing drummer. I have been looking for a jazz drummer that played double bass. Now to find some albums. Any recommendations?

A friend of mine knew Louis Bellson and said that he was the sweetest guy. When looking for recordings of him, remember he made a lot of records as a sideman.

 

[tubemusic]

Ed Shaughnessy played with double bass drums.

Thanks, I'll check him out too.

 

[tubemusic]

A friend of mine new Louis Bellson and said that he was the sweetest guy. When looking for recordings of him, remember he made a lot of records as a sideman.

Yeah, I've found that out. :/ Many to choice from...well, if I can find them.

 

[jgannon]

Yeah, I've found that out. :/ Many to choice from...well, if I can find them.

He was Duke Ellington's drummer for a time. He was a sideman with Art Tatum, Ella and Louis, and many others, as well as being on a number of Pablo albums. He also recorded as a leader for Pablo as well as elsewhere. Recordings shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

[poppachubby]

Thanks, I'll check him out too.

If you like youtube try to find the drum battle between Shaugnessy and Buddy Rich on The Tonight Show. It will blow your mind...

Edit, ok here it is... killer... things get goin once they finish playin the head. Kinda makes you laugh at the metal guys with these gigantic kits. Rich gets more out of his snare than most guys get out of 10 pieces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnfYhpNa1NY

 

[guest109]

He came to our local college and I was playing trumpet with the jazz band. Got to do a 2 hour concert with him, super nice guy, very humble. The highlight of my music life.

 

[SoundOfSound]

When I was about 18 I went to see a drum clinic of L.B. in Scottsdale, AZ.

He had a double bass Slingerland kit with a great assortment of Zildjain cymbals. That was absolutely the best sounding drum kit I have ever heard in my life and when he played it you would think he was gonna blast off into outer space.

He was sharing a lot of his philosophy on music and drumming. Two of the points he keep trying to get through to people were.

a) You've got to swing the band.

b) The bass drum is the heart beat of the music.

This was all in an effort to help people avoid making boring music and not sound like a mechanical drone.

It was a very groovy afternoon!

 

[Ths364]

I think I can hear some of the influence he had on John Bonham (the snare and kick tone are quite similar).

 

[Redtide]

This thread caused me to dig out my old "Best of Louis Bellson" LP. I used to see them in the used record bins all the time for maybe $5. It has a heavy 70's feel with a lot of fusion type songs.

I've only really noticed him playing double bass drums during solos. I rarely notice him playing 2 bass drums during songs.

Best of Louis Bellson - cduniverse

 

[musichal]

In my current thread "Explorations for Jazz Newbies - Via MOG," I recommend a Louie Bellson recording entitled June 28, 1959 - Live In Stereo At The Flamingo Hotel, Vol. 1, based on listening to its streaming at 320kbs, noting the good songs and recording quality.

Here is what I've been able to find out about it, if the source was accurate:

Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas.
Liner notes by Ed Burke.
Label - Jazz Hour.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Louie Bellson Big Band:

Louie Bellson (drums)
Frank Albright, Herb Gellder (alto saxophone)
Aaron Sacks, Nick Nickalos (tenor saxophone)
George Perry (baritone saxophone)
Guido Basso, John Frock, Ralph Clark, Wally Buttogello, Fred Thompson (trumpet)
Juan Tizol, Earl Swope, Nick DiMaio (trombone)
Joe DiAngelis (French horn)
Jack Arnold (vibraphone, percussion)
Ed Diamond (piano)
Lawrence Lucy (guitar)
Truck Parham (bass)


Tracks:

Homer's Hang Up
Bewitched
Earl's Pad
Moonlight Fiesta
Set Break
I'm Shooting High
Bombs Away
Blast Off
Break Time
It's Music Time
Zip
Checkerway
Drum Foolery