Search - Gene Krupa :: Live at the New School

A Tough Old Master Shows The Kids That He Still Has It

peter krampert | eharmonica.net | 11/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a Gene Krupa Fanatic since the very first time that I heard him play the drums. His work with Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, with others and as a solo artist firmly planted at the very pinnacle of what a great drummer should be.This CD, recorded live shortly before his death in 1973, shows beyond any doubts was arguably the greatest drummer who ever lived. Dying of leukemia, Krupa required a blood transfusion before the performance in order to have enough strength to play the gig. The performance shows a combination of power and grace that very few drummer ever achieve at any stage of their careers.I originally purchased this CD in order to hear a rare harmonica performance by the great Eddie Shu, who plays beautifully on Duke Ellington's "Caravan". Definitely worth the purchase. The best part of this CD, however is listening to Krupa. About half of the songs are long jams and he holds up like a trooper through the whole thing. His small band version of the classic "Sing, Sing, Sing" shows off the subtlety that you might miss in the earlier Carnegie Hall version with Benny Goodman's band.This CD is a masterpiece and anybody who is interested in learning to be a great drummer needs to have this recording in their collection."

David A. Lang

David A.Lang | Shaker Heights,, Ohio United States | 06/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So near his death we have been rewarded with a great albumn reminscent of his small group playing durin his later years. It could have been recorded at the legedary Metropole, Theatrical or London House as those tunes and personel gave us live of what we heard and knew of Gene. We waited for this one and there will never be another you."