New Vinyl Record - Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Play Selections From West Side Story

Don't let the title here put you off - because the LP has a lot more to offer than just familiar readings of West Side Story! True, there are a few Leonard Bernstein-penned cuts on here, but there's also a fair bit more groovy work too - and side A features material from Buddy Rich's funky Groove Merchant years, titles that were on the albums Roar Of 74 and Big Band Machine! The groove on these 4 titles is very full and often funky - as you'd expect from Rich during these years - and tracks include 'Kilimanjaro Cookout', 'Prelude To A Kiss', 'Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters', and a 'West Side Story' medley. The remaining 4 tracks are all from Maynard Ferguson - again at a time when he was quite full and driving in his work - pioneering a leaner approach to big band work, but one that still had plenty of power at the bottom! Players aren't listed, but we're guessing the work is from Ferguson's late 60s years - and titles include 'Foggy Night', 'Maria', 'Got The Spirit', and 'At The Sound Of The Trumpet'.

• 1 West Side Story
• 2 Kilimanjaro Cookout
• 3 Prelude to a Kiss
• 4 Waltz of the Mushroom Hunters
• 5 Pilatus
• 6 Foggy Night
• 7 Maria
• 8 Got the Spirit
• 9 At the Sound of the Trumpet