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GENE KRUPA - Blue Rhythm Fantasy
 
Sounds of Yester Year DSOY2078
 
The Gene Krupa Orchestra with various personnels & vocalists Anita O’Day, Johnny Desmond, Irene Day & Roy Eldridge
All recorded early Forties
 
After leaving the Benny Goodman Orchestra Gene Krupa formed his own big band recruiting musicians of the ability and reputation like Roy Eldridge, as well as singers with talent including Anita O’Day and Johnny Desmond.

Unfortunately this album is short on information including personnels and recording dates which to any serious collector is vital so therefore any sales aimed at that market will have a hard time but to any listener wishing to sample this music will probably be satisfied.

It is inevitable that any recordings by a band led by a drummer is going to have its fair share of numbers featuring that instrument and this release does not disappoint.

The final track is a twelve minute version of “Sing, Sing, Sing” which was such a big hit for Benny Goodman and featured Gene Krupa.
“Let Me Off Uptown” which features vocals by Anita O’Day and Roy Eldridge iis preent as is “Boogie Blues”.
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This a good introduction to the Gene Krupa Orchestra but the lack of information disappoints and may put some buyers off.
 
Reviewed by Roy Booth

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ECM celebrates 50 years of music production with the Touchstones series of re-issues