Drummer and compiler John Petters is an avowed Krupa enthusiast, and has taken the 50th anniversary of Gene’s death as his opportunity to collect an impressive 25 tracks featuring his hero. Given that he’s chosen to highlight Krupa’s participation in Benny Goodman’s small groups of the 1930s rather than the big band itself, it’s especially noteworthy that all his selections are from live dates, with just one track, ‘Limehouse Blues’ recorded by BG’s Quartet for a V-Disc [for the US troops overseas] and one other taken from the soundtrack of the 1937 musical romcom Hollywood Hotel. Otherwise, these are air-shots, transferred by Petters in notable sound, and never destined for release on record.

With his drummer’s awareness, Petters delineates Krupa’s work in helpful detail, track by track, as the great man displays his array of effects, fills and press rolls, building swing and excitement, this epitomised by the crowd’s wild reaction to his solo on the concert version of ‘Three Little Words’ by the quintet featuring Stacy, caught at Cornell University in 1943.

It’s important to understand that Krupa was a major celebrity following his success with Goodman’s orchestra, much like a Premiership footballer today. He had learnt his craft in Chicago, taking in the innovations of Chick Webb and Baby Dodds, his quick reactions and drive helping to make these live tracks by the trio, quartet, and quintet quite electrifying in their impact. Goodman himself always wanted to play and is in brilliant form, exhorting Hampton, Wilson, and Krupa to excel and they do, on a whole host of familiar and not-so familiar songs, often creating a tidal wave of swing. This is exhilarating music, on the edge of abandon much of the time and all the better for it. And yes, Krupa really was a superstar.