[Dixielandjazz] Billy Banks Rhythmakers

[John Petters]

Jim asked
> 3/ Was Gene Krupa really the drummer on the April 18 1932 session, as
> most discography's state (and Banks himself, apparently claimed): it
> sounds like Zutty Singleton to me.
>

This led to a dive for the CDs and careful listening. The recordings are
muddy as far as hearing distinct drums are concerned.

A couple of things occur to me. I think I read somewhere that Gene had
mentioned being on these sessions - but I can't remember the source.

On aural evidence, I compared the alternate takes of Bugle Call Rag. The
tell tale signs are the drum breaks, played very staccato on the snare,
using rim shots.

I found a recording of Zutty in 1935 with his own band playing the same
tune. Zutty's breaks are a lot more ambitious and much looser, using snare
and toms. The Rhythmakers breaks sound much more like Krupa to me.

The choke off beat cymbal in the ride out chorus has a different tone to
that used by Zutty on the latter sessions.

The piano solo on Bugle Call has a 2 beat bass drum, (although all four
takes of Oh Peter have 4 beat) whereas as all of Zutty's tracks, as I
remember have 4 beat. (I did not play all the CD so I am relying on memory).

The thing to remember is that Gene was greatly influenced by Zutty, and in
my view is not as loose. I played one of my drum students the Fats recording
of Moppin' & Boppin' with that wonderful solo introduction of Zutty's. He
said "Its Krupa". I can understand why. There are tricks that Zutty used
that could easily fool the unsuspecting into believing they were listening
to Krupa. Both were great performers.
The Rhythmakers sessions have long been prized recordings in my collection.

Anyone interested in delving more into Zutty, Gene  & Baby Dodds (plus Happy
Goldston) will find some mp3 clips with essays on these performers on my
website http://www.traditional-jazz.com/pge_drum.htm.
The Rhythmakers and Moppin' & Boppin' included
Keep swinging
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ