Customer Reviews

Krupa & Rich

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is without a doubt the finest collaboration between the two most famous drummers ever. There is no sense of competition on this album, just wonderful, swinging interplay between these two giants. When one looks at Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, one can make an analogy to Art Tatum and Count Basie on the piano. Rich, like Tatum, was simply the greatest technician on his respective instrument that ever lived. No one has even come close to duplicating what he did on the drums. Krupa, on the other hand, was a master of pure swing just like his counterpart on the piano, William Basie. Krupa could make the drums sing like any other instrument as his sticks literally danced on the drums. Krupa could play a simple beat and turn it into a mesmerizing mantra, whether it be on his snare or on the floor tom. What makes this album so special is that each drummer sticks to what he does best, and the result is an extremely even matchup. Krupa responds to Rich's thunderous technique with playful, entertaining, and always hard-swinging magic. And add the fact that the band on this session consists of trumpet giants Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge, tenor saxophonists Illinois Jacquet and Flip Phillips, and a rhythm section of Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and Herb Ellis, this album cannot help but swing like mad.

This is an awesome CD filled with solos from the two most famous names in jazz drumming. Both drummers bring their bands to record a drum battle. Many talented musicians are also on this CD such as Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Elridge, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and many others. With over 71 minutes of an awesome studio session, it is well worth the money.

With the exception of the goof-ball who doesn't know how to use the Amazon artist search process, others who have commented have nailed this CD as one of the all-time best jazz albums. Like my colleague in Portland, I first heard this album on vinyl WAY back in the 1960s, and then acquired it in about 1965 (still have it, too--now, it's in a frame on the wall in my studio). As a 40+ year drummer with distinct affinity for swing and jazz, I consider this to be a technical study in performance. Krupa and Rich trading 4s and 8s is a wonderful primer on how seamlessly two performers can do what they do best.

If you have only one drumming CD in your collection, this is the one it should be. There is none better and you will bless the jazz-gods that you got your hands on it. My own son, aged 29 (also a drummer) even went and got his own copy---who would have ever thought that a 60 year old performance would still maintain its currency for modern drummers?

I first heard this album as a freshman in high school(In Chicago, 1962). I've been playing drums for 42 years and an extreme BR fan since hearing it. I've searched for many years in quite a few states and came up empty. To not only find it, but find it on C.D. has my ears drooling. These two legends were in their physical and popular prime in 1955; Buddy was 38, Gene 46. Plus... this is after the Jazz at the Philharmonic series, in which they worked together in "drum battle" mode many times. I think it is some of the best recorded work by both, (especially Buddy) and THE BEST together. I own, or have heard, almost everything else recorded by Buddy Rich. This is the one that displays the center of the fire that made him the "Greatest". If you've never heard him on calf heads, or the phenomenon of his right foot on a bass drum pedal that might be considered unsuitable for a beginner today. If you're into Buddy, or Gene, check this out. I can't wait to get into it again for the first time.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. The showcase of Krupa and Rich is incredible, and the accompanying musicians throw out some of the smoothest jazz. With the likes of Dizzy and the Oscar Peterson trio, the musicianship is superb. This album is far more than drummers showing off, it is some of the most eloquent playing.

According to the liner notes, this 1955 recording featuring two of the best drummers in jazz did not sell very well, although musicians always liked it. Well, I'm no musician, and in 1955 I was only about ten years old, and now that I can afford to indulge in a good collection of jazz CD's I prefer small groups to large ones, but I like this disc a lot. Here you get 71 swinging minutes, featuring not only the percussionists, but also Oscar Peterson on piano, Dizzy Gillispie, Illinois Jacquet and Roy Eldridge on horns, Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on bass. The two bonus tracks not found on the original LP are as good as the music which did make the original release. Only two of the performances are standards from the so-called "Great American Songbook"---the other tunes are more in the fashion of jam sessions showing off the talents of everyone in the studio. If you like classic jazz, this is a classic offering.

When you have two of perhaps the greatest drummers in jazz playing together on one album, expect the following: Great rhythym. Serious back beats. And songs that really, really cook.

I challenge anyone to sit still while listening to this. You can't help but tap your feet and nod your head in time when you hear it.

And with Dizzy, Oscar Peterson, Illinois Jacquet and other greats sitting in, you know it's gonna be good. You can tell the musicians were having a lot of fun playing on this.

For every true Jazz lover there are must have albums for a real collection. Satch Plays Fats, The Summit Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, etc.
This album is another one. Generally when you think of Krupa and Rich what comes to mind are showman with talent but who just bang away on solo's. In this album you see the real talent to play with the best like Dizzy and Jacquet. I think however that Krupa really outshines Buddy on this album showcasing his jazz talent and not just the ability to bang away and show off.
If only Barrett Deems and Cozy Cole could have done something like this then I would really have been happy!

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING CD. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN RICH, THE TECHNICIAN, AND KRUPA, WITH MORE OF A "SWINGING" SOUND, IS GREAT. EVERY CUT IS EXCELLENT, WITH SOME JAZZ GIANTS LENDING THEIR RESPECTIVE TALENTS TO ROUND IT ALL OUT (OSCAR PETERSON, ILLINOIS JACQUET, RAY BROWN, ROY ELDRIDGE, JUST TO NAME A FEW). ANY FAN OF EITHER OF THESE GREAT JAZZ DRUMMERS WILL LOVE THIS CD.

Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich on the same album! Blazing fast technically proficient drum solos from two of the masters of the era. If you love drum solos this is for you!