One of the great drummers of all time (and one of the few whose name can be said in the same sentence with Buddy Rich), Louie Bellson has the rare ability to continually hold one's interest throughout a 15-minute solo. Next to Louie is one of my mentors, Johnny Helms, a trumpeter who worked with Woody Herman, Sam Most, Clark Terry's Big Band and served as the Musical Director of the Main Street Jazz Festival In Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to this particular photo we had just finished a three drum set extravaganza with Louie, Bernard Purdie and Ed Soph all playing at the same time. It was especially nice to observe the respect and admiration from Bernard and Ed as they listened to Louie play.