Gene Krupa Plays “After You’ve Gone†with Roy Eldridge
-
Artist:
Al Jolson and Judy Garland made famous recordings of "After You've Gone" and many more have recorded the song with great effectiveness. Yet it's not the singer but the messenger-Roy Eldridge on his magnificent trumpet that riles up the whole band in another fabulous showcase in this June 5, 1941 performance. Clarinetist Musky Ruffo comes up favorably to the fantastic speed and agility this arrangement brings to everyone, including pianist Bob Kitsis.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (4)
I love the melody of "After You've Gone," and what they do with it here is quite melodic, indicating that their synapses are built for unbelievable speed. Did Krupa tour at all with Eldridge as a member of his band?
Spike,
Roy Eldridge was a member of the Gene Krupa band from about 1941 through the later part of 1942. There were more duets of Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge and the two seemed to have got along for awhile before Anita departed for unknown reasons and hooked up with Stan Kenton while Roy Eldridge tried making it as a band leader before coming back to Krupa's band in 1945-46. On both personal appearances in various venues and at dances, Roy Eldridge was always the lead trumpeter of the band as well as substitute drummer when Gene was busy signing autographs or doing interviews. Roy was quite handy to have as a musician!
Yours truly,
musikfriend
Some venues must have been off-limits for mixed race acts.
Spike,
I'm sure there were some places that wouldn't allow a mixed group on stage. More than likely Benny Goodman had that problem and so did many others (including Artie Shaw). Duke Ellington and Jimmie Lunceford had the same problem and could only play "colored" ballrooms. When I think of it, I just feel the shame many people had over this situation. In a way, this predated much of the civil rights movement demonstrations by decades. But there simply is no excuse for racism. Well, hope you didn't mind my soap box speech!
Yours truly,
musikfriend