Search - Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich :: Krupa & Rich

Drummer Men

jaricco | Madison, WI USA | 07/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Krupa & Rich

Adam Brown | Cincinnati, OH USA | 02/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

The BEST of the best...

R. Bell | Sam Bernardino (Rt. 66) | 09/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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?"