AMG Review of Live from the Inn Club Chicago, Illinois Jan 11, 1957

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This CD has a typical live performance from the late-'50s Gene Krupa Quartet. The veteran swing drummer liberally features Eddie Shu (heard on tenor sax, clarinet, harmonica, and trumpet) and pianist Dave McKenna (who at this early stage in his career had not yet found his voice yet), along with the supportive bassist John Drew. Krupa has a few short solos but mostly lets Shu and McKenna dominate the solo space, running through remakes of "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Dark Eyes," and "Drum Boogie," showcasing Shu on "Harmonica Shu Boogie" and jamming some swing standards. The disc gives one a good idea of the type of music Krupa was performing nightly with his swing group and it should please his fans.