The Bebop Shop : Artistry In Rhythm: Early Jazz, Big Bands & Swing : Drum Boogie: Gene Krupa & Buddy Rich
One of the hottest drummers in jazz history features in our latest classic album release! This time we have five classic albums plus a scarce Japanese EP- "Drum Boogie". We include all three volumes of "The Gene Krupa Sextet" series, two of which were arranged by band member Charlie Shavers. Joining Gene across these three albums are Ben Webster, Bill Harris, Teddy Wilson, Ray Brown and Eddie Davis. For "The Gene Krupa Trio Collates", Gene is joined by Charlie Ventura on tenor and Teddy Napoleon on piano. For "Hey…Here’s Gene Krupa", Gene is accompanied by Eddie Shu on tenor, clarinet and trumpet, Dave McKenna on piano and Wendell Marshall on bass. To quote from Leonard Feathers original liner notes from "Hey…"; "To sum up this album briefly one might point out that it combines tasteful choice of material, and inventive interpretation, with a quality all too rare in albums under the direction of drummers …..and not too common in jazz as a whole….complete discretion and consistent, good taste…..". We think this would apply to all our Gene Krupa selections! All five albums plus the E.P. have been digitally re-mastered. (AVID Entertainment) Price: £8.99
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was born to show biz parents in Brooklyn in 1917. A natural drummer he was known in vaudeville as "Taps the Drum Wonder" and was leading his own band by the time he was eleven! Starting his jazz career in 1938 in Joe Marsala’s band he went on to play with the likes of Tommy Dorsey, Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw and Harry James. For the two 1955 "Wailing" sessions Buddy is joined by an array of jazz greats from Ben Webster, Thad Jones, Joe Newman and Frank Weiss to Oscar Peterson, Freddie Green, Harry Edison and Jimmy Rowles. In 1955 Buddy was "Wailing", two years earlier he was "Swinging", joined again by a stellar line up including Benny Carter, Harry Edison, George Auld, Milt Bonhart and Willie Smith. "This is jazz of the explosive variety topped off with a solo lasting upwards of three minutes (by "the greatest drummer of all time", according to Gene Krupa, and he should know!!). Having appeared in all of our early selections with Buddy, Harry Edison finally gets his name in lights for "Harry & Sweets". Jimmy Rowles hooks up again alongside Barney Kessel on guitar and John Simmons on bass. The result is "a very smooth, very musical slice of jazz". Our final selection finds Buddy paying tribute to one of the great jazz masters. "This One’s For Basie" features Buddy with a full orchestra performing arrangements by the legendary Marty Paich. A fine line up including Harry Edison, Pete Condoli and Buddy Collette do more than justice in a set that includes five Basie originals.
All three albums plus have been digitally re-mastered for probably the finest ever sound quality! (AVID Entertainment) Price: £8.99
Thought to be destroyed in a fire and lost, Buddy Rich: The Lost Tapes is a historic preservation and restoration project.
The producers recovered the masters in 1990 and went about restoring the original surround sound track of the last concert Buddy Rich recorded before he passed away in 1987. (Wienerworld) Price: £12.99
