Louie Bellson

Louie is one of the "last of the mohicans" when it comes to old school jazz drummers. He doesn't get mentioned enough. He's still the man.
 
Dr. Neaux said:
Louie is one of the "last of the mohicans" when it comes to old school jazz drummers. He doesn't get mentioned enough. He's still the man.
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He is definately a national treasure. I was fortunate enough to have a quick conversation with him during a clinic 16 years ago.
 
Louie Bellson and Roy Burns were on a clinic tour together and that was my first clinic. I was nine years old. Louie blew my mind. I[ve since been fortunate enough to have dinner with him and relay my thanks to himn personally. He is Webster's definition of "class". That goes for Mr. Burns as well!!! Thanks for bringing this up!
 
Hi Drummerworld, I was recently sent this 24 year old clip of one of my bands performing a Duke Ellington tribute with Louie Bellson. We were playing his composition "Skin Deep." It's mostly his solo and I was happy to be with him when he was still in high form. My son Matt was 18 months old, cried the whole time, then threw up on Louie backstage. Then they were pretty good friends the rest of Louie's life. I remembered the Drummerworld folks and thought you might enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlzBHmKkR04
 
That is outstanding. Send Matt our best. I miss him around these parts.
 
Matt threw up on Louie Bellson. Great story lol. Thanks for that story and that great clip too Mr. Smith. Please give Matt our best. He's missed.
 
We were having a concert with Louie Bellson, and I mentioned that his brush work sounded like tap dancing. He said that was a complement and started tap dancing a complete routine that ended with flying thru the air and doing a tatoo on a trash can just like Gene Kelly. Pearl Bailey was back stage and had just did Hello Dolley. I asked her if she wanted a seat in the auditorium and she said that she never stepped on Louie’s thing. They were both great people.
 
Louie is probably by biggest influence. Mostly for his very distinct brush playing that I attempt to imitate. He played very much of the tips of the brushes and did not bury the bush into the head during sweeps. He played brushes similar to how he played with sticks. Some drummers frown upon that and use sweeps to keep the beat, but Bellson had a distinct tap and short Single Stroke roll he used to play for fills. Also, his relationship with the hi-hat and bass drum to the brushes was spot on. So much good feel.
I play that way and it separates me from most other modern brush players. Brushes are so personal that there's not a right or wrong way to play them, even though styles and patterns can vary drastically.
 
Very big influence to me. As a kid I remember seeing him (📺) doing a solo at a halftime 🏈 game. I was nearly frozen on the couch at his mastery of a double bass white Marine pearl kit. It was Louis and Buddy that cemented in my mind...God I want to be like them. And it remains with me today.
 
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