by Scott Yanow
Despite its title, this was actually the third album by Buddy Rich's still-new big band. The recording is taken from two different periods that, although only five months apart, find the band undergoing some major turnover; only six of the 15 sidemen are the same. With such players as altoist Ernie Watts, trumpeter Chuck Findley, and usually Jay Corre on tenor, this was a strong outfit. Most of the material (other than &Chicago& and &I Can't Get Started&) was new; among the high points are &The Rotten Kid,& &New Blues,& and the complex &Diabolus.&