March 3, 1978...a high school in Sacramento, California....no producers, no engineers, just Buddy at his best, calling the tunes he wanted to play, recording the band the way he wanted, with no gimmicks. What was captured on tape that night will make you jump out of your seat. This band was one of Buddy's favorites... he called them the Killer Force, and every night as they took the stage, they looked at each other, fists up in the air, and in unison yelled KILL! The energy they exuded was unrivaled... they held Buddy up as much as he held them up. The feeling on that stage was one of sheer camaraderie, brilliant musicians doing what they do best at the highest level. On this particular night, as with every night, there was no set list, no preconceived notion of what the show would be. Buddy gauged every audience on how it felt to him... he was a master at this. He knew exactly what to play for each particular audience...you got a show just for you. We call this CD No Funny Hats in reference to something Buddy once said in an interview. The interviewer asked what Buddy thought of today's music scene to which Buddy replied: “Jazz is an American classic, and therefore we present it as such, without tricks and without nonsense and without funny hats and funny hair.” The music speaks for itself! (Cathy Rich 2004)

Tracks from No Funny Hats will be played in rotation on NPR stations through out the United States. Listeners are bound to also hear Buddy's daughter, Cathy Rich, as she tells some never before heard stories about her dad... who, as it turns out, was a caring, kind and generous man, quite contrary to the impression held by many.

See what NPR programmers have to say about The Buddy Rich Collectors Series on Bob Parlocha's Website

PRODUCER: Buddy Rich

FEATURED TRACKS:Grand Concourse, West Side Story Suite, Bugle Call Rag

FEATURED MUSICIANS: Buddy Rich - drums/leader, Steve Marcus - lead tenor sax, Andy Fusco - lead alto sax, Bob Kay - piano

SELECTIONS

1. Intro
2. Grand Concourse
3. Bugle Call Rag
4. Tales of Rhoda Rat
5. Slow Funk
6. Someday My Prince Will Come
7. West Side Story Suite

Running Time: 44 minutes