The JATP Personnel
Flip Phillips, Ben Webster, Lester Young (New York only), tenor saxes; Buddy DeFranco, clarinet; Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, trumpets; Bill Harris, trombone; Lionel Hampton, vibes; Oscar Peterson, piano; Herb Ellis, guitar; Ray Brown, bass; Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, drums; Ella Fitzgerald, vocals
Dave recalls...
The jam session, the ballad medley, the Oscar Peterson Trio, and Ella Fitzgerald sets were all stimulating, but the sparks started to ignite on the Swing Set featuring Flip Phillips, Roy Eldridge and the 4-piece rhythm section of Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. Phillips and Eldridge really challenged each other.
In contrast, the Modern Set pairing Dizzy Gillespie and Lester Young backed by the same 4-piece rhythm section was beautifully subdued; Gillespie subordinated his usual technical acrobatics in deference to Young, whom he accompanied with some sensitive obbligatos. He also conceived impressive muted solos.
A noticeable increase in performance electricity could be felt in the JATP Quintet featuring Buddy DeFranco with Peterson, Ellis, Brown and Rich. With the addition of Lionel Hampton on vibes to comprise the JATP Sextet, the voltage ratcheted up several more notches. In the meantime, Rich had executed one of his lengthy, incredible drum solos and now proceeded to duet with Hampton playing drums, both of them on Rich’s set. Showbiz, yes, but you couldn’t help getting emotionally drawn in.
The audience reached the frenzy level and exploded en masse when the lights went out and a spotlight illuminated Louis Bellson and Buddy Rich for the drum battle of all drum battles! The winner? Rich, of course, but Bellson was up for this challenge and played way over his head. I’ve never heard what Bellson played that night on any other recording until the English release of Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson and Kenny Clare exchanging solos between them.