Gene Krupa with Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge - Drummer Man (Verve)

A Sleeper... What a fantastic find!

I can't fathom why this one isn't more popular. Krupa teams up with the great Roy Eldridge and Anita O'Day to produce one swingin, sensational recording. This album could entice the most reclusive of nuns to get up and start shaking it. It's a whole lot of fun to listen to, and you can tell that they all had one hell of a great time getting together and creating this one. It's definitely Krupa's show, and he's the driving force behind the magic. He's the champion drummer of the Swing Era, and believe me, this one is all about swing! This is one of my favorite efforts and another prime example of why he is so revered among the greats (especially rock n' roll legends like John Bonham, Keith Moon, et al...). Check out his jaw dropping, blistering solo on "Wire Brush Stomp" and see for yourself what legends are made of.

We only get to hear O'Day's sultry, sensous voice for half the record, but man, oh man does she sure sound great. The lively way her and Eldridge play off of each other is truly a thing of beauty. And Eldridge is simply a marvel and one of the best ever. The fluent, rythmic way he blasts that sweet sounding trumpet of his in the highest register, it's absolutely breathtaking. The three of them made quite a team and this is quite an effort. An effort, that this particular jazz fan, awards with a five star rating.

ENJOY! August 2, 2007

America's Ace Drummer Man!

This is a fantastic session done for Verve Records in 1956 of Gene with an all-star studio orchestra featuring Roy Eldridge and Anita O'Day. The album recaptures some of Krupa's greatest hits in glorious hi-fi sound. I think drummers suffered the most from the poor recording technology of the thirties and forties, and it is to the credit of producers like Norman Granz that veterans of the Swing Era like Krupa were able to re-record their hits in living stereo sound. This album captures everything that made Krupa a legend. While Krupa had slowed down some by this time due to various health problems, his drums constantly drive the band. Krupa demonstrated that sheer musicianship is more important than technique and speed (a lesson that a lot of drummers never seemed to learn). Nevertheless, the drum breaks during "Drummin' Man" and the blistering solo on "Wire Brush Stomp" are some of the most exciting sounds ever produced on a drum set. Also well-featured in this album are the two biggest stars to have emerged from Krupa's band, Roy Eldridge and Anita O'Day. Their humorous and swinging interplay on "Let Me Off Uptown" is one of the highlights of this set. Also, Roy lights off some fireworks with his rendition of "After You've Gone" (my second favorite version of the song after the one by the original Benny Goodman Trio, complete with Gene Krupa). This album demonstrates the confident brilliance that only comes with maturity, and the fact that no one ever has or will again propel a big band like that drummin' man, Gene Krupa! February 1, 2004

lightning strikes and pounding thunder

Gene krupa, Roy Eldridge, and Anita O'day come together to produce a masterpiece that has no equal. This album should be timecapsuled to represent what it means to truly swing. December 12, 1998

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