MARKMANIATT (September 25, 2008 at 8:13 pm)

If you only had this clip to form a judgement on the playing of Dave Tough,or more importantly, the way he plays with a degree of stiffness in his arms,you could be forgiven for being less than impressed.Massive mistake!You are looking at one of the greatest geniuses in the history of Jazz drumming.Does anyone have a clip from the 1945 film,'Earl Carroll Vanities'?It features Toughs greatest period with Woody Hermans First Herd actually playing on film.Someone must have this unique movie clip!

snaedwiev (September 25, 2008 at 5:16 pm)

Dave Tough (or "Davey Tough" as Buddy Rich sometimes referred to him) was of the few, if not the ONLY drummer that Buddy ever gave a nod to. He loved his ride cymbal technique, as I recall.Sad that there isn't more footage of him somewhere. Who knows?, may be someone will discover some, forgotten in an attic or something.

tmmmviii (August 28, 2008 at 4:43 am)

It sounds like an explosion when Tough plays. Never heard of him before and can't find any other links to him on youtube.

450984 (August 11, 2008 at 11:29 pm)

Tough was always a great musician

ParadiddleMcFlam (July 30, 2008 at 1:25 am)

On Caldonia he sounds amazing behind the piano with his bass drum and high-hats.

drummer78 (March 29, 2008 at 1:57 am)

Read the interviews of the guys in Woody Herman's band (it is in the book "Drummin' Men"). All said that Dave's swing was out of this world. If these were his bandmates saying this, I take it they are correct.

valvetrom (March 13, 2008 at 3:46 am)

Thank you, excellent, I played a couple of gigs with Sudhalter ca 1960 in Munich.

hankhayes (March 12, 2008 at 9:39 am)

The trombone player, Brad Gowans, built that instrument himself. It is a combination valve/slide trombone! He built it in his garage workshop. Richard Sudhalter describes it in his book, "Lost Chords: White Musicians and Their Contribution to Jazz, 1915-1945."

MARKMANIATT (December 17, 2007 at 10:07 pm)

Just about everything about Dave Toughs' posture,setup,and general technique are wrong if the accepted wisdom is to be believed.Try telling that to the drummers around the World who still got into raptures about this 'genius'.Dont believe me?Get yourself Daves' recordings with the Woody Herman First Herd 44/45.Then when you pick yourself up off the floor,post your 'findings' on here!!!!!!!

Bomberdrummer (August 1, 2007 at 9:18 pm)

Yes!! Fantastic to see a glimpse of Dave Tough. Thanks.