One of my favorites. Musicians like Pat, Houston Person, Bob Malach and Justo Almario don't receive nearly the recognition they deserve. Thanks for the post, Fillius Jazz
Great interview. Pat you’ve always been a favorite of mine, especially in the Buddy Rich Band. I was surprised to hear your from Mt Morris. I stayed a night there several years ago.
would pat needs to do is give an in depth interview,2 hours in length about all his years on the buddy rich band.the interview would be full of gossip,anecdotes,day to day life on the road,stories about various band members,fans,etc.
What a great player Unlike Jay Corre, Don Menza or Steve Marcus, who premiered at 1st tenor Pat was 2nd tenor and promoted from within. I don't think that happened before. Pat had the 2nd longest tenure in Buddy's band. He was so good every night, Buddy never messed with him, unlike Joe Romano or Bob Crea ("stay seated, Bob. That's an awful lot of weight to lift up" cruel!) To go from Buddy to Elvin Jones, one defined the beat, the other implied the beat Glad he's still around to let him know he was fabulous on the bandstand Don't know if he liked playing Love Story, or Backwoods Sideman, but took chicken salad and turned it into cordon bleu Re Bobby Shew--said he was with Buddy for 18 months, and was fired 26 times! p.s (I'm adding as I listen to the interview) Re fender bass--Buddy told my friend he switched because the double bass wouldn't fit on the bus Yet in 1976 at Carnegie Hall, John Burr played the upright. In the 50's Phil Leshin said Buddy kept playing louder and he had to literally yank the strings. Buddy wanted a dominant bass line. Sorry to hear about the revolving chair with bass players but later on he hit gold with Tommy Warrington (who played in New Zealand with Pat's brother) , the late Wayne Pedziwater and the late Doug Carpenter,. Some really great rhythm sections pps he did look at the rhythm section at the Jacksonville jazz fest in '83. While performing Mike Abene's arrangement of Birdland, he was not happy with the bass player, and let him know it Monk asked Pat if he ever fired someone that Buddy wanted to keep. I don't think Pat understood the question Re bass players who lock in the time and won't budge-- Buddy's friend., the late drumner Irv Cottler was like that, which led to his fight with Bobby Darin "Tell me where you want it and I'll put it there and keep it there" Give me an A Buddy relayed the story during a Tonight Show appearance when Joel was there.
When i was 23 i was playing tenor 6 nights a week in the clubs. i wanted to get clarinet, flute and oboe together so I could make money i Vegas or LA and save money to play jazz! I had a real classical clarinet teacher ( i paid from my own pocket) He was not enthralled with me playing tenor every night, plus I was not interested in repertoire, only in technique and sound. He stopped coming to my lessons at the community college where he taught. 1967. I got the message LOL! Pat we have met in Copenhagen when you were Elvin. I will always be a big fan. Bob R
One of my favorites. Musicians like Pat, Houston Person, Bob Malach and Justo Almario don't receive nearly the recognition they deserve. Thanks for the post, Fillius Jazz
So glad great players are giving interviews !!!
I have never heard Pat speak before. What a lovely, modest, intelligent and talented man. Super interview.
He comes from a family band like Lester Young. Fascinating. Wonderful interview.
Pat is a true genius. He and his brothers are so talented!!
Thank you for this amazing interview
Great interview. Pat you’ve always been a favorite of mine, especially in the Buddy Rich Band. I was surprised to hear your from Mt Morris. I stayed a night there several years ago.
The GREAT Pat Labarbera!!!
would pat needs to do is give an in depth interview,2 hours in length about all his years on the buddy rich band.the interview would be full of gossip,anecdotes,day to day life on the road,stories about various band members,fans,etc.
Another great interview. Thank you!
Hi again Pat- I sent this to Bruce Paulson who still stays in touch with your brother Joe.
Is Joe in New Zealand playing with Tom Warrington?
What a great player
Unlike Jay Corre, Don Menza or Steve Marcus, who premiered at 1st tenor Pat was 2nd tenor and promoted from within. I don't think that happened before.
Pat had the 2nd longest tenure in Buddy's band. He was so good every night, Buddy never messed with him, unlike Joe Romano or Bob Crea ("stay seated, Bob. That's an awful lot of weight to lift up" cruel!)
To go from Buddy to Elvin Jones, one defined the beat, the other implied the beat
Glad he's still around to let him know he was fabulous on the bandstand
Don't know if he liked playing Love Story, or Backwoods Sideman, but took chicken salad and turned it into cordon bleu
Re Bobby Shew--said he was with Buddy for 18 months, and was fired 26 times!
p.s (I'm adding as I listen to the interview)
Re fender bass--Buddy told my friend he switched because the double bass wouldn't fit on the bus
Yet in 1976 at Carnegie Hall, John Burr played the upright.
In the 50's Phil Leshin said Buddy kept playing louder and he had to literally yank the strings. Buddy wanted a dominant bass line.
Sorry to hear about the revolving chair with bass players but later on he hit gold with Tommy Warrington (who played in New Zealand with Pat's brother) , the late Wayne Pedziwater and the late Doug Carpenter,. Some really great rhythm sections
pps he did look at the rhythm section at the Jacksonville jazz fest in '83. While performing Mike Abene's arrangement of Birdland, he was not happy with the bass player, and let him know it
Monk asked Pat if he ever fired someone that Buddy wanted to keep. I don't think Pat understood the question
Re bass players who lock in the time and won't budge--
Buddy's friend., the late drumner Irv Cottler was like that, which led to his fight with Bobby Darin
"Tell me where you want it and I'll put it there and keep it there"
Give me an A
Buddy relayed the story during a Tonight Show appearance when Joel was there.
Great interview!
When i was 23 i was playing tenor 6 nights a week in the clubs. i wanted to get clarinet, flute and oboe
together so I could make money i Vegas or LA and save money to play jazz! I had a real classical clarinet
teacher ( i paid from my own pocket) He was not enthralled with me playing tenor every night, plus
I was not interested in repertoire, only in technique and sound. He stopped coming to my lessons at the
community college where he taught. 1967. I got the message LOL! Pat we have met in Copenhagen when
you were Elvin. I will always be a big fan. Bob R
Great interview up until you brought politics into it. So much for the music I guess.
Agree. Why was that rubbish brought into the mix? That segment was in poor taste.