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Gene Krupa's "Gene's Blues"

Gene Krupa's "Gene's Blues"

[Download link below]

Gene Krupa's drum solo from the track Gene's Blues.

This is from the album Krupa and Rich, recorded May 16, 1955, and November 1, 1955.

Transcription published in Modern Drummer in 1998.

  • Gene Krupa on Drums
  • Roy Eldridge on Trumpet
  • Dizzy Gillespie on Trumpet
  • Flip Phillips on Tenor Sax
  • Illinois Jacquet on Tenor Sax
  • Oscar Peterson on Piano
  • Ray Brown on Bass
  • Herb Ellis on Guitar

I've always found Krupa's rhythmic displacement to be so unique. His choices were always so atypical. Still trying to figure him out.

I've included a recording of the entire track, one of the drum solo, and a pdf of the entire transcription.

Solo starts around 05:35.

This is a fun one to work up. Looks simple but goes by pretty fast.

Billy

Modern Drummer Issue May 1998

[Click Here to Download Solo]

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