Gene Krupa Collage

It has recently come to my attention that these clips are all from a release called --"Gene Krupa: Swing Swing Swing"-- produced and packaged by Dr. Bruce H. Klauber of
Hudson Music part of the
Jazz Legends Series. Apparently this video or dvd can be ordered from the Hudson Music company in it entirety, with superior sound and image quality to this sampling. Aplogies to Dr. Klauber.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gene
• Krupa:
• Hudson
• music
• Jazz
• vintage

[hjrjgyu8]

the best drummer

[todbeck]

This shows Gene had the speed of Buddy Rich ,when he was in his prime.

He was the KING OF COOL and the geatest showman of the drumworld of all time. And i';m a great Buddy Rich fan,also.

[thecubanism]

@MIGARRAND1, I agree, Gene was the greatest ever but what about the night of the battle of the bands when Benny faced Chick, Benny played his standard arrangement of 'Don't be that way', Chick up-tempoed it and, as Gene said at the time, 'Chick cut me to ribbons' and he did, I am saddened that Chick Webb is rarely mentioned when discussing drummers, a five foot humped-back dwarf he could, with his foot-pedal knock his kit over, it had to be nailed down, and he bested Gene that night.

[thecubanism]

Gene was the greatest ever but when he moved into the world of Bebop I think he struggled, he looks like he shouldn't be there, but musical trends dictated that he should, to me that sort of music, Bebop, modern jazz etc., is, to real musicians a music that you can't dance to, can't sing to, can't move to, it is music only the musicians playing it get any enjoyment from it's music for the ears only, how sad when the body is left out of the mix.

[p47paul]

I am a 'rock' drummer...converted to jazz. One of the main reasons was listening to Gene Krupa. Man was he amazing! I am one of those who doesn't believe that there is any one greatest. However, I do believe that there is a top tier, and Gene was in that top tier. His beats and fills were so tasteful. To me it seems that Krupa always thought about every note, which is why he was so tasteful as a drummer. Wish I could go back in time and go to one of his shows. He was amazing!

[denipenni]

Finesse. I'm no expert; but, to my ears, no one made 'em sing like Krupa.

[KrupaDrums]

@hjrjgyu8 ...definitely!

[ToddCMorgan]

@M1GARRAND1 Agree with everything you said except for the power part! In his day Gene had more power than any other drummer, just listen to what he does with the bass drum on the live 1938 version of "Don't Be That Way" by Benny Goodman! Gene was the quintessential "Wild" drummer, and did more to add to the sound of Benny's band than Buddy Rich ever did for Tommy Dorsey's band!

[M1GARRAND1]

I love Gene too. He sounded better. His drums sounded better . But to compare him to Rich, is going too far. Rich had more control, power, technical skills, and was able to propel a band much better than Krupa. He was an ass though. Krupa was a great guy, so he gets my vote.

[bonnieville455]

@todbeck I totally agree that Krupa is faster... just like Benny Goodman said, I've heard them all , i've heard them all I still prefer Gene Krupa (and they didn't even get along) also at 15 times a second no one can match that!!!!! You don't have to hit the drums hard, Krupa was light and fast off the skins, not a hammer, hammer... That's how I feel and Buddy Rich was a great drummer too!

[bonnieville455]

@todbeck

@todbeck I totally agree that Krupa is faster... just like Benny Goodman said, I've heard them all , i've heard them all I still prefer Gene Krupa (and they didn't even get along) also at 15 times a second no one can match that!!!!! You don't have to hit the drums hard, Krupa was light and fast off the skins, not a hammer, hammer... That's how I feel and Buddy Rich was a great drummer too!