Imagine a worldwide resource where one could obtain CDs and DVDs by the legends of jazz drumming-live concerts, television and radio programs and more, never commercially released-for $15, with no charge for shipping all over the world.

That was and is www.JazzLegends.com, and since the original announcement and the extension of our “everything $15 sale,” we have been overrun with orders that have come from all over the world.

That is the good news.

The reality is that, as big as we may sound, JazzLegends.com is a one-person operation-me-devoted to bringing the finest and rarest unreleased music to the world at large. I process the orders, duplicate them and mail them personally.

Additionally, the PayPal organization, which processes our credit card payment system and millions of other online credit card payment systems, seems to notify us of about eight in ten orders we receive. The other two fall into the cracks, and that’s a shame for you and for us.

In the ten years I’ve been running JazzLegends.com, I have now heard the word “rip-off” two times. This hurts and this saddens me deeply.

As most of you know, I will personally go to the ends of the earth to make good on each and every order, whether a DVD is defective (you are all aware that the duplication process has not yet been perfected), and/or whether an order has not been received. I have offered free items and double your money in order to make up for any problems in processing your orders.

You know us. Hopefully, you love us. Ideally, you will continue to know us and love us. We have touched on the fact, via various other columns, that worldwide economic problems have touched us all. JazzLegends.com is no exception, which is why we have lowered prices across the board.

Please trust us. Please be patient. And above all, please help keep us operating by ordering early and often.

Our longtime colleague and friend, Cathy Rich, has thankfully resurrected the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concerts. Cathy has single-handedly kept her dads memory, legacy and contributions alive, and believe me-and I know-it has not been easy.

On October 18 at the Hammerstein Ballroom within New York city’s Manhattan Center, The Buddy Rich Memorial will again be with us. Among the stars booked thus far are the worlds greatest drummers, including Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, John Blackwell and various others, who will be playing with the reconstituted Buddy Rich band. Also appearing? None other than the “heir to the throne,” Buddy’s grandson Nicky and bassist Will Lee. I’ve also heard rumors that there will be a certain, very underrated singer on the stage who you all know. Get your tickets now via Ticketmaster or the other usual ticket outlets.
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The first of the 24-hour Internet percussion channels is about to roll out. As previously reported here, TheDrumChannel.com is the brainchild of Drum Workshop, Inc., and this site will be a doozy. On view will be interviews with the jazz legends, lessons, vintage footage, blogs and much more. Log on in the next few weeks for a free preview, including film of the famed, Buddy Rich/Statler Hilton Hotel shows.

Our Glenn Miller releases have received a surprisingly good reception. In all honesty, I was never really a fan of Miller’s, outside of having to learn all the charts, like any drummer should. My tastes, however, do not dictate what we carry, so we’ve gotten hold of a TV special that was broadcast some years ago, entitled “Glenn Miller’s Last Flight,” which examines the controversy related to the as yet unsolved death of the bandleader resulting from his airplane trip from London to Paris on December 15, 1944.

It is important to remember that out of all the big bands still on the road and still performing, the Miller franchise-under the direction of trombonist Larry O’Brien-remains the busiest. As of this writing, the Miller band has three franchises worldwide and they all work over 300 days and nights, per year.

We have lost several great drummers over the past few months, and each and every one of them have made significant contributions to the legacy of jazz and jazz drumming.

Earl Palmer was a rhythm and blues pioneer who perfected his studio chops in his native New Orleans with the likes of Fats Domino and Lloyd Price. Along with Hal Blaine, Palmer became so much in demand, that even Sinatra had to have him. His roots, however, remained in jazz, which is likely why he was able to swing even the non-swingers.

Jim Blakemore played for singer Jack Jones for years and years and years. Jim passed not to long ago in his adopted location of Naples, FL, not too long ago, where he was backing artists like Stu Shelton, Bob Zottola and many others. Jim was a great, great human being. Personally, he was as understated as his playing. As a timekeeper and as an accompanist, he was impeccable. He was taste personified. I could to my wildest, Buddy Rich drum solo impersonation, and Jim would put me away with a well-placed, two-bar break. I learned a lot from him.

This item is a bit off the beaten path, but it bears detailing. Those of you who have to travel have probably been scared to death to purchase airline tickets of late, given the prices of fuel, security surcharges, etc. On top of it, I am certain you all have heard about additional charges for checked baggage, snacks, water, etc. (I’m waiting for the time when the “pay toilet” concept will be reinstated for benefit of the airlines).

There is one airline, however, that is somehow bucking the trend of expense, surcharge and poor service. This is Southwest Airways.

They are the absolute best, in every area you can imagine.

Truthfully, I was most hesitant to go online and purchase airplane tickets for our annual, Naples, FL sojourn. I shouldn’t have been concerned. Given the general panic that goes along with any travel situation these days, I was pleased and overjoyed to get a very, very fair-actually incredible– Philadelphia-to-Fort Myers fare. And traveling on Southwest is a joy. Their personnel, often singing, dancing and joking throughout the trip, make the often stress-filled process of traveling by air an absolute ball. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why all the other airlines are not following the lead of Southwest.
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Stay tuned for more new on TheDrumChannel.com, the status of the Slingerland Drum Company and other issues. Remember, if there is anything specifically that you are looking for, feel free to contact me directly at DrumAlive@aol.com.

Keep swingin’

Bruce Klauber
October, 2008