In 1931, Webb and his band, which was now known as The Chick Webb Orchestra, began what would become a four-year stint at legendary Harlem hotspot the Savoy Ballroom. During this tenure, Webb’s dynamic big band became the talk of the town, attracting dozens of dancers, jazz fanatics, and awe-struck musicians looking to figure out what it meant to really swing.
Fellow big band leaders, including swing royals Benny Goodman (with Gene Krupa on drums) and Count Basie (with Jo Jones on drums), also brought their bands into the Savoy for friendly “Battle Of The Bands” competitions. But the power of The Chick Webb Orchestra could not be defeated, leaving the drummer to be forever acknowledged as “King Of The Savoy.”

from Modern Drummer