Gene Krupa - The Gene Krupa Story (1999)

Gene Krupa attained a level of fame unmatched by any other drummer in jazz history. His performances of "Sing, Sing, Sing" with the Benny Goodman band epitomized the raw excitement of jazz in the swing era, and his subsequent celebrity, further fuelled by a 1943 arrest for marijuana possession, even led to a 1960 biopic, The Gene Krupa Story, starring Sal Mineo. This four-CD set concentrates on the decade from 1938 to 1947, providing tremendous depth on a period when Krupa was leading one of the most innovative and popular big bands of the era. Although it's budget-priced, the set has sound, selection, and documentation created using very high standards indeed. The first three CDs follow the studio evolution of Krupa's bands, while the fourth is devoted to live broadcasts from 1945 to '47. The impact of his energetic drumming is evident throughout, both in his frequent features, like "Wire-brush Stomp," and in the band's rocking covers of such tunes as "Tuxedo Junction."

The greatest moments, though, come from his inspired choice of associates, with singer Anita O'Day and the great trumpeter Roy Eldridge matching the leader's spontaneity on hits like "Drop Me Off Uptown" and "Drum Boogie." Even the ballads swing--O'Day's band debut on "Georgia on My Mind" is superb--and Krupa's drive is sufficient to propel even the large 1944 group with strings. His talents with a small group are on display in his "band within a band," the trio with tenor saxophonist Charlie Ventura that's heard on such tracks as "Dark Eyes" and "Stompin' at the Savoy." Krupa was also one of the first big-band leaders to respond to bebop, including vocalist Dave Lambert, trumpeter Red Rodney, and the young Gerry Mulligan in his band's ranks. The fourth CD shows Krupa at his most energetic, providing further perspectives on both "the band that swings with strings" and a great bandleader in the transition from swing to bop.