Friday, December 18, 2020

Of Recent Vintage: Gene Krupa: Jazz Legend (actual date unknown)

 Many of today's jazz and rock drummers have cited Gene Krupa as an influence on their careers.

In fact, you can say Krupa inspired several generations of drummers, from Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson to Charlie Watts. Krupa struck out on his own after parting company with Benny Goodman, and became an even bigger star.

In 2004, Gene Krupa: Jazz Legend was released on DVD, but I have no clue when this was first produced, since narrator Steve Allen had passed on before the release of the DVD. A compilation of vintage footage and relatively forgotten television appearances, such as Lionel Hampton's One Night Stand in 1971, with Mel Torme and Rich.

Scope!


The 1971 performance of "Sing, Sing, Sing", long a Goodman trademark, may sound familiar to today's audience from usage on shows like The Simpsons. I think Cartoon Network may have used a riff, too, for interstitals.

Rating: A.

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