The rhythm king

DRUMMER extraordinaire Louie Bellson passed away on February 14 last. In the genre of big band music, he was the last of the “big three” drummers and his gig with the great Duke Ellington Orchestra is memorable, particularly his electrifying solo on Skin Deep (his own composition).

Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich were the classy runners-up.

Bellson had uncanny stick control while using two bass drums simultaneously and, like Krupa and Rich, you’d become mesmerised watching and listening to their pounding, powerhouse rhythms.