Class of '78

Class of '78
Studio album by Buddy Rich
Released	1978
Recorded	October 1977
Genre	Jazz
Length	29:51
Label	Century Records
Producer	Norman Schwartz
Buddy Rich chronology
Lionel Hampton Presents Buddy Rich (1977) Class of '78 (1978) Together Again: For the First Time (1978)
Alternative cover / title
DCC Compact Classics CD re-issue

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic [1] [2]
DownBeat	[3]

Class of '78 is a big band jazz album recorded by Buddy Rich in 1977. Originally released by Century Records as a "direct-to-disc" LP album Limited Edition, it was widely released in 1978, and re-issued on Compact Disc as The Greatest Drummer That Ever Lived with "The Best Band I Ever Had".

Reception

DownBeat assigned the album 4 stars. ^[3] Reviewer Chuck Berg wrote,

The ride cymbal sizzles, the hi-hat pops and the snare drum snaps. The bass drum, however, booms, booms, booms . . . the disc comes very close to putting you right at ringside. Aside from Buddy's bravura breaks and fills, there are fine solo spots by tenor/soprano saxman Steve Marcus, tenorist Gary Pribek, trumpeter Dean Pratt and pianist Barry Keiner. The section work is precise and the ensembles swing with abandon. ^[3]

Track listing

LP side A:

1. "Birdland" (Zawinul) – 6:46
2. "Bouncin' with Bud" (Powell) – 5:55

LP side B:

1. "Cape Verdean Blues" (Silver) – 6:17
2. "Fiesta" (Corea) – 6:23
3. "Funk City Ola" (Mintzer) – 4:30

Personnel

• Buddy Rich – drums
• Alan Gauvin – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
• Chuck Wilson – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
• Steve Marcus – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Gary Bribek – tenor saxophone, percussion (cowbell)
• Greg Smith – baritone saxophone, percussion (cabasa)
• Chuck Schmidt – trumpet
• Dean Pratt – trumpet
• John Marshall – trumpet
• Danny Hayes – trumpet
• Matt Johnson – trombone
• Dale Kirkland – trombone
• Edward Eby – bass trombone
• Barry Kiener – keyboards
• Tommy Warrington – bass

References

1. Scott Yanow review of Class of '78 at allmusic.com
2. Scott Yanow review of The Greatest Drummer... at allmusic.com
3. Berg, Chuck (March 8, 1979). "In Review". DownBeat . 46 (5): 28–30.

• Great American Gramophone Company GADD 1030
• Gryphon 781 (UK)
• DCC Compact Classics 606 (1990 CD retitled re-issue, The Greatest Drummer...)
• Class of '78 at discogs.com