The most famous of drummers in Big Band jazz and Swing, Gene Krupa's reputation continues today nearly 30 years after his death. Only the late Buddy Rich has an equal fame. Krupa without doubt established the drum solo as an integral part of Jazz and later rock. In 1938 he formed his own orchestra. Amongst his band's best known recordings are the vocals with Anita O'Day, featured here. Tracks include; "Let Me Off Uptown","Ball of Fire","Jungle Madness", "Drummin' Man", "Drum Boogie".

GENE KRUPA PLAYS TRADITIONAL JAZZ

In Krzysztof Pendercki's catalogue of works, the ones in which wind instruments play a dominant role actually do not constitute an impressive collection, however, they draw attention with their variety. The four compositions on this new release represent the concertare rule; on the one hand, they document the attempts of investigating the sound nature as well as technical and expressive possibilities of the particular instruments. On the other hand, they serve as a record of Pencerecki's change of style within the period of almost 50 years.

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REVIEW:

The Capriccio for oboe and 11 strings is a genuinely virtuoso piece, as much for the string players as for the soloists, but that provides no problems for the outstanding Sinfonia Iuventus, and Arkadiusz Krupa is a commanding soloist. The epic Horn Concerto, subtitled Winterreise though devoid of any quotations from Schubert, dates from 2008 and is naturally utterly different in style. Its opening, mysterious and portentous, may well constitute the most beautiful two minutes of music the composer has ever written.

– Gramophone

Classical Music

BIG BAND CLASSICS (1931-1940)

Lutoslawski: Double Concerto for Oboe and Harp / Dance Prelu

Gene Krupa - Drummin' Man: Hits & Classic Recordings 1938-50 Gene Krupa was one of the most admired and influential drummers in the history of jazz, with his impact extending into the pop era, not least through his effective defining of the make-up of the modern drum kit. As a drummer and bandleader in the swing and big band eras of the late 1930s and '40s, he became known for what the New York Times called his "frenzied, flashy" drumming which was revolutionary in it's day, and elevated the rile of the drummer from pure accompanist to being an important solo voice in the band. This 48-track 2-CD collection features all his 27 career hits on the Brunswick, Columbia, Okeh and RCA-Victor labels, plus selected renowned recordings from across this era. It includes his Top 10 hits "It All Comes Back To Me Now", "High On A Windy Hill", "Just A Little Bit South Of North Carolina", "Along The Navajo Trail", "Chickery Chick" and "Bonaparte's Retreat". There are performances by his noted female vocalists Irene Day and Anita O'Day, and by his other featured vocalists Jerry Kruger, Howard Dulaney, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Desmond, Carolyn Grey and Bobby Scots. It offers a fascinating cross-section of his recordings, from the more mainstream pop material that comprised many of his hits to the hard-hitting big band jazz for which he was especially renowned, and it's an entertaining showcase for his music.