Buddy Greco & His Jazz Friends

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After more than 70 albums and over 100 singles, I think I know a little bit about making records. This album, Buddy Greco and his Jazz Friends, should be called Buddy Greco and his Dream Team, because that’s exactly what it is, A DREAM TEAM.

When I called these guys to see if they wanted to do it and explained that I could not afford to pay the “Big Bucks” they usually get when they record, they all said “Forget the money, we want to do this album with you because this group of musicians have never gotten together before. We think it will be a lot of fun.” What luck, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but over the next six months, our schedules permitting, we did it!

Grover Washington Jr. is from my home town of Philadelphia, PA. Besides being one of the great sax players, he is the finest soprano sax player in the world. Listen to how beautifully sensitive he is on “The Magic of It All,” written by Alf Clausen.

Toots Thielemans and I first met in 1949 at The London Palladium with Benny Goodman. He was playing guitar in the band, but during a rehearsal break he pulled a harmonica out of his guitar case and started to play a Dizzy Gillespie riff ! I have loved him since and what a thrill it was to record together again over 50 years later. I wrote “Passing Pastels” way back then too and Toots plays it brilliantly.

Jack Sheldon was with Merv Griffin for many years on TV and not only as a musician, but as a comic too, and we have known each other since then. He is a wonderful actor too and is the trumpet player I would most want to play like.

Ernie Watts and I first met when he was in Buddy Rich’s band in the 60’s. If you can rank Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet as the greatest wall-of-sound innovators, you must add Ernie Watts to the list. He roars when he plays, that’s why we call him “The Lion.” Ernie can play anything and is one of the most exciting tenor sax players, ever!

Buddy DeFranco is my childhood friend and neighbor from Philly and one of the premier jazz clarinet players in the world and is one of a few real bebop players. We grew up together and we both loved Benny Goodman and the big bands when we were kids. He led the Glenn Miller band for almost a decade in the 70s. Now Buddy is now the master.

Terry Gibbs’ real name is Julius Gobenko. I have been a huge fan since his stint with Woody Herman and the Third Herd. Listen to him moaning and groaning as he’s playing his great solos. He and Buddy Defranco work together often and I was thrilled to have them both on this recording.

Frankie Capp played with Stan Kenton for years, toured with Peggy Lee and played with Billy May and has recorded with me quite a few times. He is always driving, driving, driving and he really keeps the groove going.

Ron Eschete worked with me when he was about 17 years old. I knew he was great then and now is the master of the seven string guitar, a renowned jazz artist and teacher. I loved playing with him again.

Ken Wild is just that, Wild, and has played and recorded with the biggest names in the business. He is the most sought after bassist in the business because he plays the best notes EVER.

Rich Ruttenberg is a beautiful and passionate keyboard player and you have heard him play if you watch TV, like the Academy Awards or go to the movies. Whatever we wanted; big band, strings, he was always there. He is a fabulous pianist but what he does with electric keyboard is absolutely magic.

Efrain Toro is the great Puerto Rican percussionist. Listen to “Loving Her,” a lovely Latin song also written by Alf Clausen. Alf Clausen is a genius. Having Alf as my co-producer and arranger was the best, as I rank him at the top of my list of “Best Arrangers on the Planet,” need I say more? In addition to many many film, Television, Symphony and Broadway credits, he has been writing the music for “The Simpsons” for the past 20 years. He still looks like a Swiss Bell Ringer though, has a great sense of humour, is musically dangerous, and can write for all genres of music. I have the utmost respect for his musical ability and he is one of my closest friends. Alf you are the best!

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