John La Barbera on Non-Functional Harmony and Giant Steps

Review By Jack Bowers

The geometry, if you will, of a terrific big band recording is such that the three major elements — the players, the arrangements, and the performance — balance in every regard. Grooveyard from the John La Barbera Big Band is such an offering.

At the risk of further popularizing a certain piece of underground trash, I would like to address the notorious Buddy Rich “scream tape” that has become somewhat “gospel” in the history of the “World’s Greatest Drummer.” First of all let me say that having worked with just about every version of Buddy’s band (as a…