Gene Krupa has often been considered the first drum ´soloist.´ Drummers usually had been strictly time-keepers or noisemakers, but Krupa interacted with the other musicians and introduced the extended drum solo into jazz. His goal was to support the other musicians while creating his own role within the group. Gene is also considered the father of the modern drumset since he convinced H.H. Slingerland, of Slingerland Drums, to make tuneable tom-toms. The recordings found on this disc were made shortly after Krupa left Benny Goodman’s Orchestra and formed the Gene Krupa Orchestra which featured trumpeter Roy Eldrige and singer Anita O´Day. The band remained highly popular from 1938 until 1943, when it was forced to break up, following Krupa’s arrest for the possession of marijuana. He was shortly released on bail, and rejoined Benny Goodman’s Orchestra briefly, before joining Tommy Dorsey’s band.