Jazz for aficionados

Been posting on JFA for 4 years now and everyone know how I feel about Buddy Rich. To my ears he is the best big band drummer I have ever heard.... Its like boxing which I love just as much as jazz. Its no coincidence that the golden age of jazz - 1935 through 1965 - was also the golden age of boxing.

The great American journalist A.J. Liebling who wrote one of the best all time pugilistic books titled "THE SWEET SCIENCE" wrote in the book 3 words that have been re- written by other authors and has been repeated in millions of conversations about boxing since the beginning of the sport known as SWEET SCIENCE.

Those 3 words are STYLES MAKE FIGHTS.

It is my opinion the STYLES MAKE MUSIC. and Buddy had style - a truck load of style. The unmistakable style that propelled many a big band. Just a few favorites of mine:

(10) Buddy Rich with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra 1943 "Well Git It" - YouTube

(10) Buddy Rich - Mercy Mercy Mercy Live (1968) - YouTube

(10) Buddy Rich Big Band - Big Swing Face - YouTube

Buddy detractors say he is not capable of holding back with a light touch - keeping the swing propelling without overpowering the other musicians. Well I give you this small band with Lester Young, Nat King Cole, and Buddy.

(10) SOMEBODY LOVES ME by Lester Young, Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich - YouTube

**** Its no coincidence that the golden age of jazz - 1935 through 1965 - was also the golden age of boxing. ****

Intriguing comment, pjw, please elaborate.  Thanks.

Btw, to be clear, I hope my comments don’t give the impression that I am a Buddy Rich “detractor”; I’m not.  While he may not be my favorite drummer he was clearly a great drummer.  He had a certain style which interestingly is very different from Mel Lewis’ (thanks for the clip, I had seen it) who is a favorite.  

**** Its no coincidence that the golden age of jazz - 1935 through 1965 - was also the golden age of boxing. ****

Just as there were the most recognized and dominate pugilists during that period the same hold true for jazz wouldn't you agree?

You know the jazz greats who performed during that 30 year period frogman so I'll just name a few boxers as this is a jazz forum and though I would love to talk boxing for hours I have other avenues for that.

Archie Moore called the mongoose, was the greatest Light Heavyweight of all time had his first professional fight in 1935 and his last in 1963
Moore fought in 4 different decades compiling a record of and retired with 186 wins - 132 by knockout with just 23 losses. Archie loved jazz and was very good friends with Lucky Thompson who used to play his sax while Archie trained.

Joe Louis, arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time fought from 1934 - 1951  Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 until his temporary retirement in 1949. He was victorious in 25 consecutive title defenses, a record for all weight classes. Louis had the longest single reign as champion of any boxer in history.

Sugar Ray Robinson fought from 1940 - 1965. Ray had 174 wins - 109 by knockout with only 19 losses. Ray turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight unbeaten streak, the third-longest in professional boxing history. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title in the latter year. Ray was great friends with Miles Davis and it was  at Ray's urging that Davis kicked his heroin habit in 1953.

Rocky Marciano also fought during these years. Marciano became the Heavyweight Champion in 1952 and defended his belt until 1956 when he retired undefeated at 49 - 0 with 43 knockouts.

Thanks, pjw. But, why “not a coincidence”? I thought that your suggestion was that there were reasons why both disciplines coincided.  I was curious what those might be.

keegaim, if you want to dig deeper into Miles, among the many bios I might suggest "Miles, The Autobiography" with Quincy Troupe.  That is if you are looking for more than you'll find by sampling recordings from his various "periods".