The epitome of genuine excitement, drummer Gene Krupa was a true jazz giant and an inspirational figure who was at his peak when driving the Benny Goodman Orchestra and later his own big band. However, when that genre began to evaporate, Krupa wisely took refuge in the Norman Granz organization, where, when not touring the globe with JATP, this truly charismatic player was in the studio leading various small groups mostly made up of the impresario's leading repertory players. If Krupa learned much from his lengthy sojourn with Goodman's Big Band then just as important, he was a major contributor to the internal dynamics of Goodman's trailblazing trio and quartet, which he later partly replicated to his own advantage on Clef/Verve. Here, with pinpoint accuracy, he's heard with a trio featuring Charlie Ventura and a boisterous swing-into-bop sextet with the hyperactive Charlie Shavers the mainstay. As to be expected ‘Drum Boogie’ is included (twice!).

Genuinely liked and admired by everyone who either knew or worked with him, successive generations of sticksmen continue to acknowledge Krupa's supremacy. Had Avid chosen not to include the superfluous 1957 quartet recordings featuring the faceless Eddie Shu, then this would have proved a much more focused compilation. Nonetheless, this stands as a fine testament to a great innovator's legacy.