GENE KRUPA: 1944  and 1946
The tracks on this CD, first issued more than 16 years ago on the Hindsight label, are comprised of several sessions. Tracks one, three and 12 present "The Band that Swings with Strings," recorded in December of 1944 for Armed Forces Radio Service and not listed in many Krupa discographies. The Hindsight issue notes also state that track number three, "Stardust," was recorded at that session as a feature for trumpeter Don Fagerquist. That's in error, as Stardust was recorded for a January, 1946 Capital Records transcription session that featured Charlie Ventura and Red Rodney. The remainder of the 16 tracks here are indeed from three, separate sessions recorded for Capital in 1946, issued 10 years ago--and unlikely to be reissued-- on the pricey and long-out-of-print Mosaic Boxed set that also featured Harry James. There are four great trio dates--"Idaho," "Sweet Lorraine" and "How High the Noon" that were never again featured in this form, by this version of the Jazz Trio, again. All in all, these sets have superb facility throughout, and it's easy to hear how easy Gene was making the transition from swing drummer to something more modern.

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