CD1
Sing, Sing, Sing
1. Don't Be That Way
2. How High The Moon
3. Sing, Sing, Sing
4. Love For Sale
5. Booted
6. This Can't Be Love
7. Harmonica Shu Boogie
8. September Song
Gene Krupa – Drums
Eddie Shu – Trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, alto sax, harmonica
Teddy Napoleon – Piano
Gene Krupa Quartet
9. Makin' Whoopee
10. All Of Me
11. Sleepy Lagoon
12. Little White Lies
13. Strike Up The Band
14. Bach's Blues
Gene Krupa – Drums
Eddie Shu – Alto sax, tenor sax
Bobby Scott – Piano, vocals
Milt Hinton – Bass (probably tracks 9, 10, 13, 14)
John Drew – Bass (tracks 11, 12)
Krupa Rocks
15. I Only Have Eyes For You
Gene Krupa – Drums
Gail Curtis – Clarinet
Teddy Napoleon – Piano
Mort Herbert – Bass
CD2
Krupa Rocks
1. The Gang That Sang Heart Of My Heart
2. Gone With The Wind
3. Pick Yourself Up
4. Fire Place Blues
5. But Not For Me
6. Memories Of You
7. Three Little Words
8. Avalon
9. Indiana (Back Home Again In Indiana)
Personnel as on CD1, track 15
The Jazz Rhythms Of Gene Krupa
10. Tenderly
11. Tepee
12. 'S Wonderful
13. Hippdeebip
14. Krupa's Wail
15. Strike Up The Band
16. Undecided
17. Gene's Bass Blues
Gene Krupa – Drums
Eddie Shu – Clarinet, tenor sax, alto sax
Bobby Scott - Piano (tracks 10-15)
Teddy Napoleon - Piano (tracks 16, 17)
Milt Hinton – Bass (probably tracks 10, 11)
John Drew – Bass (tracks 12-15)
Drummer Gene Krupa has often been described as a showman – a label which can be considered pejorative. But I like Krupa for his showmanship. He used it to
help him bring the drums to people’s attention as a possible source of excitement and brilliance. Gene was particularly aware that the stimulating effect
of the drums could be increased when they were part of a small group of three or four musicians. Hence he created the Gene Krupa Trio and Quartet, some of
whose sterling work is illustrated on this double CD. The album contains four LPs from the mid-fifties.
On many tracks he is joined by Eddie Shu, a multi-instrumentalist who has seldom been given the credit for his versatile talents. His versatility may be
gauged from the number of his instruments listed above, but they hardly give the full story about a man who had also learnt the guitar and violin as well
as performing as a ventriloquist! His main instrument was the saxophone, but he plays the clarinet and trumpet as well in Sing, Sing, Sing and the
harmonica in September Song. On tenor sax Eddie had a satisfyingly deep tone rather like Charlie Ventura, Shu’s predecessor in the Gene Krupa
trio. One might expect an “entertainer” like Eddie to be a less-than-good jazzman, but he supplies some excellent solos. For example, his tenor solo on Tenderly is delicate and sensitive, with touches of Lester Young.
On the LP Krupa Rocks, Shu was replaced by clarinettist Gail Curtis, a reed player who appeared with the bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn
Miller. He had a rather classical tone on clarinet and was a less rousing musician than Eddie Shu. This makes the LP more meditative than the other three
in this compilation.
The pianist on most of these LPs is Teddy Napoleon, a gifted player who knew how to fill the gaps in these small ensembles. He can be flowery or bluesy:
like Eddie Shu, a versatile musician. In The Gang That Sang Heart Of My Heart, he even sounds a bit like Erroll Garner.
The star of the show is indubitably Gene Krupa. His technique was not as advanced as (say) that of Buddy Rich or some later drummers, but he wisely chose
to stick within his limitations and exhibit simple techniques which appealed directly to audiences. This was apparent in his classic performance of Sing, Sing, Sing at Benny Goodman’s famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. It is equally clear in the version of the same piece on this album. Lasting
ten minutes, it opens with characteristic tomtoms and then the clarinet imitates Goodman. Teddy Napoleon contributes a glittering solo, and eventually we
are back with the drums full-on.
Like Max Roach, Krupa’s breaks used basic patterns but were commanding in their simplicity. Several tracks in this collection include thrilling drum breaks
which keep the temperature high. In some tunes Gene starts things off with forceful brushwork or hi-hat introductions which entice the listener into
Krupa’s swinging, good-natured world.
Some critics have under-rated Gene but he was a driving force in Benny Goodman’s band and small groups, as well as being the leader of a very popular big
band plus small groups such as we hear on this double album. With his trios and quartets, Krupa stripped things down to essentials, with a very talented
reedman and pianist, plus occasionally a bassist to reinforce the beat. I think the results were marvellous.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Avid AMSC 1134
