The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine
Featuring Cathy Rich and Emmy Award-winning drummer Gregg Potter
The power. The precision. The unmistakable sound of Buddy Rich.
One of the most electrifying traditions in big-band history is alive and on the road.
The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine brings the extraordinary music, legendary arrangements, and relentless energy of Buddy Rich back to the concert stage through a full-scale professional jazz orchestra led by his daughter, Cathy Rich, and Emmy Award-winning drummer Gregg Potter.
This is more than a tribute to one of the greatest drummers in music history. It is the continuing musical legacy of the Buddy Rich Orchestra, carried forward by the people who have dedicated their careers to preserving its sound, performance tradition, and extraordinary repertoire.
The result is a concert experience that combines the sophistication of world-class big-band jazz with the impact and excitement of a major live production.
The Legacy Continues
Buddy Rich transformed the modern big band through his remarkable technical command, fearless musical imagination, and insistence on extraordinary ensemble performance.
His orchestra combined explosive drumming, powerful brass and saxophone writing, swinging rhythms, and the musical influence of jazz, rock, and popular music. At a time when many big bands had disappeared from the touring circuit, Rich continued bringing large-ensemble jazz to new audiences around the world.
Following his passing in 1987, Cathy Rich committed herself to preserving that remarkable legacy.
She created the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert series, bringing together some of the world's most celebrated drummers to perform with Buddy's musicians. In 2011, she relaunched the touring orchestra with Gregg Potter in the drum chair, beginning a new chapter in the band's history.
Today, the Buddy Rich Big Band Machine continues to introduce that music to audiences who remember Buddy's original performances and to generations discovering his extraordinary artistry for the first time.
Cathy Rich — Preserving the Music, Continuing the Performance
The daughter of Buddy Rich, Cathy Rich has been part of this musical tradition since childhood.
At just twelve years old, she recorded “The Beat Goes On” with her father's orchestra on the celebrated Big Swing Face album. She subsequently developed her own career as a vocalist and performer while continuing to appear with the Buddy Rich Band.
Following her father's passing, Cathy became a driving force behind preserving his recordings, music, musicians, and live-performance legacy.
As creator and producer of the Buddy Rich Memorial Concerts, she worked with an extraordinary collection of musicians, including Phil Collins, Billy Cobham, and Max Roach. She also collaborated with Rush drummer Neil Peart on the acclaimed Burning for Buddy recording projects.
Today, Cathy brings her unique perspective to the Buddy Rich Big Band Machine as vocalist, onstage host, and creative leader.
Her performances combine music with personal memories and stories from the road, creating a connection to Buddy's life and career that no conventional tribute production can reproduce.
Gregg Potter — Behind the Drums
At the center of the Buddy Rich Big Band Machine is Emmy Award-winning drummer Gregg Potter.
A commanding performer whose musical career spans jazz, rock, television, recording, and international touring, Potter brings the intensity, precision, and showmanship demanded by the Buddy Rich repertoire.
His association with the orchestra began with the band's modern revival, including an appearance at the 25th Anniversary Buddy Rich Memorial Concert at the London Palladium in 2012.
Since then, Potter has performed with the band throughout the United States and internationally, bringing Buddy's music to theaters, jazz clubs, festivals, and major concert venues.
His work with the band was the subject of a major feature in the August 2026 issue of Modern Drummer, which also highlighted Cathy Rich's continuing role in her father's musical legacy.
Potter does not simply recreate the sound of another drummer. He brings his own musicianship and personality to one of the most demanding drum chairs in big-band music, delivering performances of remarkable technical authority and expressive energy.
An International Concert History
The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine carries an extraordinary international performance history, bringing the power, precision, and unmistakable sound of Buddy Rich's music to audiences across North America, Europe, and Asia. Under the leadership of Cathy Rich and featuring Emmy Award-winning drummer Gregg Potter, the ensemble has performed in some of the world's most celebrated jazz clubs, concert halls, and festivals.
International engagements have included sold-out performances at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, Blue Note Milano in Italy, and Blue Note Tokyo in Japan. The band's history also includes London's legendary Palladium, where Potter performed at the 25th Anniversary Buddy Rich Memorial Concert in 2012. The ensemble's 2017–2018 centennial world tour further demonstrated the enduring international appeal of Buddy Rich's music.
In the United States, the band has appeared at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater, Carnegie Hall through the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert series, the Arcada Theatre in the Chicago area, and Milwaukee's Summerfest, among other distinguished venues and festivals.
These performances reflect more than the preservation of a celebrated musical legacy. The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine brings this music to contemporary audiences through commanding ensemble execution, explosive rhythmic energy, sophisticated arrangements, and the improvisational intensity that defined Buddy Rich's orchestras.
With a proven history of international touring and appearances in venues ranging from intimate jazz clubs to major concert halls, the Buddy Rich Big Band Machine offers presenters an established ensemble with the musical authority, performance history, and audience appeal to anchor jazz festivals, performing arts seasons, and special concert events worldwide.
2027 — Forty Years of Buddy Rich's Legacy
2027 marks the 40th anniversary of Buddy Rich's passing—and an important opportunity to celebrate his lasting influence on contemporary music.
The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine is developing additional United States and international touring opportunities for 2027, including performing arts centers, major jazz festivals, concert series, and special anniversary presentations.
Under the leadership of Cathy Rich and Gregg Potter, the orchestra brings this extraordinary legacy directly to audiences through performances featuring the celebrated Buddy Rich repertoire, powerful instrumental solos, Cathy's vocals, personal stories, and the remarkable musical energy that made the original orchestra famous.
Presenters seeking a distinctive jazz headliner, a major legacy-music attraction, or a special anniversary concert are invited to explore available dates with DGL Artists.
International festival and concert routing opportunities are also being developed for 2027.
Specific touring personnel, dates, and production arrangements are subject to confirmation.
Educational Programs and Masterclasses
The Buddy Rich musical legacy extends far beyond the concert stage.
The orchestra's connection to generations of professional musicians, jazz educators, drummers, and students creates opportunities for educational programming in conjunction with selected performances.
Available educational concepts may include:
Drum set masterclasses and professional performance clinics with Gregg Potter
Big-band sectionals and ensemble coaching with participating musicians and Buddy Rich Band alumni
Improvisation, phrasing, ensemble precision, and rhythmic interpretation
Discussions of Buddy Rich's musical career and impact on jazz performance
Professional musicianship, touring, and the demands of performing in a world-class big band
University jazz residencies and special educational events
Programs may be developed for universities, conservatories, high schools, jazz festivals, and professional music organizations, subject to faculty and artist availability.
Listen, Watch, and Explore
Official Artist Website
Official Band Biography and Promotional Photography
https://thebuddyrichband.com/the-buddy-rich-big-band-machine
Performance Video and Promotional Reel
https://thebuddyrichband.com/br-band-video-promo
Performance Video Gallery
https://thebuddyrichband.com/br-band-video-gallery
International Performance History
https://thebuddyrichband.com/performances
Modern Drummer — Gregg Potter, August 2026
Modern Drummer — Cathy Rich, August 2026
https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/cathy-rich-the-other-side-of-buddy-rich/
Booking and Representation
The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine — Concerts, Festivals, Touring, and Educational Engagements
DGL Artists works with Cathy Rich and Gregg Potter to develop domestic and international performance opportunities for the Buddy Rich Big Band Machine.
For inquiries regarding 2027 concerts, jazz festivals, special events, university engagements, educational programming, touring availability, and production requirements, contact:
Dr. John Horgeshimer
DGL Artists
john@dglartists.com
+1 218-464-7097
www.dglartists.com