Gene Krupa: Massachusetts
Musicians:
Gene Krupa (drums), Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Anita O'Day (vocals),
Mickey Mangano, Norman Murphy, Al Beck (trumpets), Greg Phillips, Tommy Pederson, Babe Wagner (trombones), Sam Musiker (clarinet, alto sax), Ben Feman (alto sax), Jimmy Migliori, Don Brassfield (tenor saxes), Rex Kittig (baritone sax), Joe Springer (piano), Teddy Walters (guitar), Ed Mihelich (bass)
.Arranged by Elton Hill. Composed by Andy Razaf & Luckey Roberts
.Recorded: New York, July 13, 1942
Rating: 90/100 (learn more)
Many state tributes are about a native who, torn from home, longs to return. Of these, the toughest to sing is "Massachusetts." Aside from its name, which demands concentration and sobriety, Andy Razaf's run-on lyrics scarcely give a vocalist time to breathe. Fortunately, galloping into this breach as intrepidly as Paul Revere, rides Anita O'Day. During the Swing Era, every big band had a "girl singer," mostly squarer than the Harvard quad. Gene Krupa's canary, by contrast, was one fly chick. Backed by a precision ensemble with the power to burst into high dudgeon, Anita compounds the Commonwealth with interest.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
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