I grew up in a house with a drum set and my dad listening to Louie, Buddy, Gene and the rest. I started playing to those albums at age 3. This, IMHO is HANDS DOWN the hottest drum battle I have ever seen! Vern was on fire and both drummers just killed it! The true winner of that battle has been everyone blessed enough to watch it! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Going by this playing, Vern should have become a household name in drumming....but never did. This was an amazing performance. I wonder why he didn’t get the fame and recognition he deserved. I’d never heard of him, until I saw this...he blew me away..

That was amazing. I had never heard of Spevak before today. Wow!

One thing that always stood out to me about Louie is that he always seemed to enjoy watching other drummers play as much as he loved playing himself. He never seemed to be about trying to outdo anyone, he just loved drumming. I wouldn't call this a "battle", i'd call it two amazing drummers playing together. Incredible!

One of the best drum battles you will ever see, no matter who was in it. Vern was incredible here, matching and even surpassing Louie much of the time. I watched this on PBS when it first aired, the NIU band was marvelous as well.

God. I loved that. The one thing about Louie,, no matter who is playing with, or who he is battling,, he looks like he’s having so much damn fun. RIp.

Vern, thanks for being a satisfactory teacher at Naperville central high school for us kids. Truly Outstanding video that is in my opinion a timeless classic for jazz and the history of drumming alike!

Louie is my favorite drummer of all time. His musicality is the reason for me. Such a great human being and ambassador of music. Definitely gonna be checking out more on Spevak.....

This is by far one of the best drum battles I have seen. ...up there with the coliouta, gadd, and weckle showdown!

Wow...never heard of Vern..what a pleasure to watch.

I can't believe I found this footage! A family friend put this drum battle along with other drum solos on a VHS tape for me when I was a kid, and I watched that tape every day until it wore out. Vern absolutely held his own against the great Louie Bellson! Glad I discovered this.

Vern Spevak eh?. . never heard of him til i fell upon this download. Great stickmanship and what an honour to battle it out with one of the TRUE greats of the art, Mr Louie Bellson! Great stuff.

Just incredible. I could barely breathe, holding my breath so i could hear every single note and inflection. Amazing!

They were both crackin' this day

Vern is incredible like Buddy Rich. And Louie's the Grandmaster still!

This young man is amazing. By that time completely unknown - but worldclass! Vern Spevak you are fantastic... I wish you a splendid carreer! Joachim

What a shame, Vern never became a household name. Absolutely brilliant drummer..

The best drum battle. More of a conversation rather than strictly pyrotechnics. Good stuff.

Absolutely incredible!

Incredible. Not sure I've ever seen Louie play better . Those licks . Both he & Vern are truly amazing .

HOLY SHIT!!!! This has got to be in my top 5 favorite drum duets/ battles

THE VERY BEST DRUM SOLO BATTLES EVER! documented in the history!!! As long as I know! Wait! Gotta include all the drum solos I've seen in my life ! ( I'm in 50's! Lol) .Jaw dropping Mind blowing solos & so fast , but yet TASTEFULLY done !!! Musicality is still there! Very fun to watch ! SO EXCITING!!! Anyone ( include people DON'T really care for drums & drummers) can truly ENJOY!!! AMAZING!!!

Up there with Buddy and Gene’s drum battles.

Fantastic! Spevak very soulful/musical as well as technical--one of the best solos I have seen. Bellson great as always, and classy, showing his appreciation for the fine young drummer. Best, most musical drum duet I've ever seen.

AWESOME!

One of my first heroes... Louie was a giant. THIS is by far his most astonishing playing ever. Speed, Vocabulary , spirit, and youthful joy. He takes a backseat to no one.... Vern is next. God bless you and thank you Louie, you are the the one that brought wind to my drummers heart.

Wow...this is fantastic!!

Didn't know this two drummers. Thanks for share.

This is phenominal.. Respect to you Vern.. Your playing is beautiful...and you are on fire.. Louie is on top of his game.. And had to be 🥁🥁🥁👏👏👏

This is from a documentary on the NIU band I remember watching in Chicago on PBS! Great to see it again.

Incredible!

AMAZING.!!!!!!

So glad I can be taught this mans amazing ways of being a drummer from himself. Hope I can be just like him some day

This is fantastic very musical drum duo👌

One of the best drum battles youll ever hear.up there with , Rich and Krupa, Rich and Bellson, and Coliuata, Weckl and Gadd

Great Job Vern I hope you are still playing? Yes you do remind me if a Younger LB both of you did Awesome

i love it Vern ! BRAVISSIMO !

Can’t believe I’ve never seen this vid. This was unreal. I met Louie when I was a kid drummer some 40 years ago and he was a very kind man. I still have an autographed copy of his album dynamite to this day.

Fantastic.....

These Drummers Always Give There Best

Incredible

Great job, Vern. Those were the days.

EXCELLENT

Virtuosos right there masters of their craft unbelievable drumming

Wowee,this drum battle is incredible,Louie going full pelt at that age,amazing and the young kid,sensational.

OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!

Wonderful! It reminded me of the Buddy Rich-Ed Shuanessy Drum Battle on Carson in 1979.

And they both had a lot of fun performing their individual percussion expertise.

It's the wonderful session!! Can you show the whole concert?

Bravo, gentlemen. Bravo.

Vern's snare drum sounds fantastic!

Seeing the joy on their faces

Very nice!!

Great!!!!!!

Phenomenal.

History recorded! I cannot believe how advanced these guys fills were then! Ahead of the time. Krupa I've always known but his double bass work here is really advanced and I tricate. The you get drummer a true prodigy and equal and perfect for such an exchange

I saw this live It is with the NIU Jazz Band!

Hold crap! Amazing.

Louie a great drummer great man cheered on Vern with all his heart. A great soul.

Aw MAN! Check it _out_ -- This was _wild_ ! Go man *go*! Vern knows what _time_ it is...& he brings it ON! Louie was impressed !

In this bettle there is only one weener . AS. Public. History . They just enjoy what they know the best. Play music. Joy of life . And posibility to play with each other in front of as. So great . Thx

Jesus Christ !!!!! I knew about Buddy Ritch but this Louie Bellson guy is amazing also.

Snare drum heaven.

Masters symposium

Loue kicks out the bell sticks !!! And NIU ensemble crushing it live !!! Awesome.

Doesn't even seem human. Crazy skill by both men. Louie the king but Spevak holds his own. Magnificent!

Today, we have the 20 yr old “ super kid “, GREYSON NEKRUTMAN .. I hope he becomes one of the greats, as Vern Spevak , unfortunately didn’t., as great as he was here.

my god out of this world

Note to today’s drummers...no tape or muffling, on the snares or toms... We overdo that, in my opinion and alter the natural drum sound.

And they say buddy rich is fast, these two are just as fast if not faster 😊👍

WOW!

As an English gentleman, I have only one word to say about this... fucking hell!

1.Mr. Alan Dawson 2.Michael schneider ft. Santana 3.James Gadson 4.Hub Jannson These top 3 great drummer always haven't listed by many youtubers everytime they upload their new video. We want the names that never being heard.. Including bob marley drummer and michael jackson recording drummer, not that sugarfoot but someone else. And so on and on and on and on.. Put those great names please...

Great American Artist drummer !!! innovator 2 BD great Tech.home in San Francisco!!! From Chicago IL. Gene Krupa Jack DeJohnette Dan Seraphine Tony Wiliams Gary Novak.

Check the 3min mark. and 4-35 min mark. Vern’s crossovers rival Buddy Rich.

What year?

Vern must have reminded Louie of his younger days, when he won the Gene Krupa competition, for new up and coming drummers.

holy crap.

Although it seems Vern is more impressive than Louie, at the bottom line Louie sounds more musically than Vern

6:40 Sweet lord😀

I know this guy!!!

Wow

Vern never became a household name, like I thought he might, after seeing this. Incredible playing by him, for a young guy, up against a legend..

this is insane.

Его величество РИТМ. Завораживает.

I think around 1980-1.

single stroke roll very best )))))

Vern used Mapex later on. Would these be them as well.

👏🏻😆👍

Neither one is better than the other...just different.

Louie is using Slingerland.....not sure what Vern is using. He more than held his own. What ever happened to him. What year was this, by the way.

Drum solos always wind up being repetitive & military. I always hated playing them myself as I never thought they contributed anything musically , which is what it is all about . Used to love the short breaks .

00:20

My girlfriend likes Mr. Spevak's hair and thought he's good-looking too.

I kon Vern's kid!

In my opinion Vern you equaled Louie that night, youre hands were smoking

Anyone know what drums Vern was playing and what Slingerland snare Louie Bellson was playing. What became of Vern...his name was never remembered as a great..he was here.

MAPEX vs SLINGERLAND

Is that Murray Spivak’s son? Unbelievable

Da hell did I just see? Whatever happened to Spevak?