Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra - The Chronological Classics, 17 Albums (1921-1941)

Fletcher Henderson was very important to early jazz as leader of the first great jazz big band, as an arranger and composer in the 1930s, and as a masterful talent scout. Between 1923-1939, quite an all-star cast of top young black jazz musicians passed through his orchestra, including trumpeters Louis Armstrong, Joe Smith, Tommy Ladnier, Rex Stewart, Bobby Stark, Cootie Williams, Red Allen, and Roy Eldridge; trombonists Charlie Green, Benny Morton, Jimmy Harrison, Sandy Williams, J.C. Higginbottham, and Dickie Wells; clarinetist Buster Bailey; tenors Coleman Hawkins (1924-1934), Ben Webster, Lester Young (whose brief stint was not recorded), and Chu Berry; altoists Benny Carter, Russell Procope, and Hilton Jefferson; bassists John Kirby and Israel Crosby; drummers Kaiser Marshall, Walter Johnson, and Sid Catlett; guest pianist Fats Waller; and such arrangers as Don Redman, Benny Carter, Edgar Sampson, and Fletcher's younger brother Horace Henderson. And yet, at the height of the swing era, Henderson's band was little-known.

Fletcher Henderson had a degree in chemistry and mathematics, but when he came to New York in 1920 with hopes of becoming a chemist, the only job he could find (due to the racism of the times) was as a song demonstrator with the Pace-Handy music company. Harry Pace soon founded the Black Swan label, and Henderson, a versatile but fairly basic pianist, became an important contributor behind the scenes, organizing bands and backing blues vocalists. Although he started recording as a leader in 1921, it was not until January 1924 that he put together his first permanent big band. Using Don Redman's innovative arrangements, he was soon at the top of his field. His early recordings (Henderson made many records during 1923-1924) tend to be both futuristic and awkward, with strong musicianship but staccato phrasing. However, after Louis Armstrong joined up in late 1924 and Don Redman started contributing more swinging arrangements, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra had no close competitors artistically until the rise of Duke Ellington in 1927. By then, Henderson's band (after a period at the Club Alabam) was playing regularly at the Roseland Ballroom but, due to the bandleader being a very indifferent businessman, the all-star outfit recorded relatively little during its peak (1927-1930).

With the departure of Redman in 1927, and the end of interim periods when Benny Carter and Horace Henderson wrote the bulk of the arrangements, Fletcher himself developed into a top arranger by the early '30s. However, the Depression took its toll on the band, and the increased competition from other orchestras (along with some bad business decisions and the loss of Coleman Hawkins) resulted in Henderson breaking up the big band in early 1935. Starting in 1934, he began contributing versions of his better arrangements to Benny Goodman's new orchestra (including "King Porter Stomp," "Sometimes I'm Happy," and "Down South Camp Meeting"), and ironically Goodman's recordings were huge hits at a time when Fletcher Henderson's name was not known to the general public. In 1936, he put together a new orchestra and immediately had a hit in "Christopher Columbus," but after three years he had to disband again in 1939. Henderson worked as a staff arranger for Goodman and even played in B.G.'s Sextet for a few months (although his skills on the piano never did develop much). He struggled through the 1940s, leading occasional bands (including one in the mid-'40s that utilized some arrangements by the young Sun Ra). In 1950, Henderson had a fine sextet with Lucky Thompson, but a stroke ended his career and led to his death in 1952. Virtually all of Fletcher Henderson's recordings as a leader (and many are quite exciting) are currently available on the Classics label and in more piecemeal fashion domestically.


Tracks:



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1921-1923 {The Chronological Classics, 794}

01. Pretty Ways (2:57)
02. There Ain't No Nothin' (Gonna Take The Place Of You) (3:14)
03. My Oriental Rose (3:03)
04. Baby Girl (2:49)
05. Unknown Blues (2:47)
06. Fancies (3:07)
07. Say It While Dancing (3:00)
08. Love Days (2:56)
09. Bamboo Isle (3:02)
10. Blue (3:14)
11. Chime Blues (3:33)
12. I Want To (3:25)
13. Farewell Blues (2:46)
14. Wet Yo' Thumb (3:14)
15. Down by the River (3:07)
16. Trot Along (2:55)
17. Beale Street Mamma (3:13)
18. Don't Think You'll Be Missed (2:49)
19. Down Hearted Blues (2:56)
20. Gulf Coast Blues (3:06)
21. When You Walked Out Someone Else Walked Right In (3:19)
22. Gulf Coast Blues (3:20)
23. Midnight Blues (3:18)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1923 {The Chronological Classics, 697}

01. Papa Better Watch Your Step (3:20)
02. My Sweetie Went Away (She Didn't Say Where - When - Or Why) (2:54)
03. Gulf Coast Blues (3:03)
04. Down Hearted Blues (2:49)
05. Dicty Blues (2:39)
06. Do Doodle Oom (2:44)
07. Dicty Blues (3:02)
08. Do Doodle Oom (3:07)
09. Just Hot (2:59)
10. Down South Blues (3:06)
11. Dicty Blues (2:48)
12. Charleston Crazy (3:00)
13. Do Doodle Ooom (2:40)
14. West Indian Blues (2:58)
15. You've Got To Get Hot (2:51)
16. Old Black Joe's Blues (3:05)
17. 31st Street Blues (3:09)
18. Shake Your Feet (4:27)
19. Linger Awhile (4:13)
20. Dixie Moon (4:08)
21. My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time (4:26)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1923-1924 {The Chronological Classics, 683}

01. Charleston Crazy (2:46)
02. I'm Gonna See You (When Your Troubles Are Just Like Mine) (2:49)
03. Chattanooga (Down In Tennessee) (2:54)
04. Lonesome Journey Blues (2:39)
05. Bull Blues (2:32)
06. Old Black Joe's Blues (2:47)
07. Potomac River Blues (3:07)
08. Shake Your Feet (3:07)
09. Swanee River Blues (2:50)
10. It Won't Be Long Now (2:46)
11. Warhorse Mama (intro Triflin' Man) (3:02)
12. Oh! Sister, Ain't That Hot (3:03)
13. Steppin' Out (2:55)
14. Mamma's Gonna Slow You Down (2:58)
15. Old Black Joe's Blues (3:01)
16. House Rent Ball (2:52)
17. Darktown Has A Gay White Way (2:46)
18. Mistreatin' Daddy (3:22)
19. Cotton Picker's Ball (2:57)
20. Lots O'Mama (3:01)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924 {The Chronological Classics, 673}

01. Chicago Blues (2:50)
02. Why Put The Blame On You? (3:11)
03. Sud Bustin' Blues (3:08)
04. War Horse Mama (2:53)
05. Wish I Had You (And I'm Gonna Get You Blues) (3:10)
06. Just Blues (2:53)
07. I'm Crazy Over You (2:48)
08. I Wish I Could Make You Cry (3:23)
09. Say Say Sadie (3:03)
10. Chicago Blues (2:56)
11. Feelin' The Way I Do (3:03)
12. Chattanooga (Down In Tennessee) (3:18)
13. Ghost Of The Blues (3:04)
14. Tea Pot Dome Blues (3:01)
15. Mobile Blues (3:09)
16. My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time (3:19)
17. Somebody Stole My Gal (3:02)
18. After The Storm (3:11)
19. Driftwood (3:12)
20. Feeling The Way I Do (3:08)
21. Red Hot Mama (3:06)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924, Vol. 2 {The Chronological Classics, 657}

01. I Don't Know And I Don't Care (3:01)
02. Strutter's Drag (3:04)
03. Do That Thing (3:07)
04. Those Broken Busted (Can't Be Trusted Blues) (3:09)
05. Oh! Eva (Ain't You Coming Out Tonight?) (2:58)
06. Jimminy Gee (3:10)
07. Jealous (3:08)
08. Wait'll You See My Gal (2:56)
09. I Can't Get The One I Want (3:14)
10. You Know Me, Alabam' (3:15)
11. Houston Blues (3:09)
12. Muscle Shoals Blues (3:23)
13. Hard Hearted Hannah (2:50)
14. Where The Dreamy Wabash Flows (3:10)
15. The Grass Is Always Greener (In The Other Fellow's Yard) (3:03)
16. Charley, My Boy (3:06)
17. The Gouge Of Armour Avenue (3:01)
18. Hard Hearted Hannah (3:04)
19. That's Georgia (3:08)
20. You'll Never Go To Heaven With Those Eyes (3:03)
21. A New Kind Of Man (With A New Kind Of Love For Me) (3:00)
22. The Meanest Kind O' Blues (3:13)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924, Vol. 3 {The Chronological Classics, 647}

01. He's The Hottest Man In Town (3:00)
02. I Never Care 'Bout Tomorrow (2:55)
03. Forsaken Blues (3:10)
04. Cold Mamas (Burn Me Up) (3:08)
05. Manda (3:13)
06. Go 'Long, Mule (3:04)
07. Tell Me, Dreamy Eyes (3:09)
08. My Rose Marie (2:52)
09. Don't Forget You'll Regret Day By Day (3:15)
10. Shanghai Shuffle (3:21)
11. Words (2:55)
12. Copenhagen (2:55)
13. Shanghai Shuffle (2:47)
14. Naughty Man (3:15)
15. One Of These Days (2:59)
16. My Dream Man (2:54)
17. The Meanest Kind Of Blues (2:59)
18. Naughty Man (2:53)
19. How Come You Do Me Like You Do? (3:15)
20. Araby (3:00)
21. Everybody Loves My Baby (vocal) (3:08)
22. Everybody Loves My Baby (instr.) (3:07)
23. Naughty Man (2:42)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924-1925 {The Chronological Classics, 633}

01. Prince Of Wails (3:06)
02. Mandy Make Up Your Mind (3:04)
03. I'll See You In My Dreams (2:59)
04. Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me? (3:04)
05. Bye And Bye (2:59)
06. Play Me Slow (3:12)
07. Alabamy Bound (3:14)
08. Swanee Butterfly (3:16)
09. Poplar Street Blues (3:18)
10. 12th Street Blues (3:12)
11. Me Neenyah (My Little One) (3:08)
12. Memphins Bound (2:57)
13. When You Do What You Do (2:59)
14. I'll Take Her Back If She Wants To Come Back (3:05)
15. Money Blues (3:02)
16. Sugar Foots Stomp (2:53)
17. What-Cha-Call'-Em Blues (2:53)
18. I Miss My Swiss (2:58)
19. Alone At Last (3:06)
20. T.N.T. (2:51)
21. Carolina Stomp (3:12)
22. Sleepy Time Gal (3:03)
23. Then I'll Be Happy (3:00)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1925-1926 {The Chronological Classics, 610}

01. Spanish Shawl (3:01)
02. Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley! (3:05)
03. Peaceful Valley (3:03)
04. Hay Foot, Straw Foot (2:53)
05. Nobody's Rose (3:00)
06. Pensacola (3:05)
07. Florida Stomp (2:59)
08. Get It Fixed (3:02)
09. Chinese Blues (3:14)
10. Panama (3:16)
11. Dinah (3:08)
12. I Want Somebody To Cheer Me Up (2:54)
13. I Want To See A Little More Of What I Saw In Arkansas (2:54)
14. Let Me Introduce You To My Rosie (3:04)
15. I Found A New Baby (3:13)
16. Nervous Charlie Stomp (3:11)
17. Black Horse Stomp (3:05)
18. Tampeekoe (2:59)
19. Hi-Diddle-Diddle (2:53)
20. Hard-To-Get Gertie (3:08)
21. Honeybunch (3:06)
22. When Spring Comes Peeping Through (3:11)
23. Dynamite (2:58)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1926-1927 {The Chronological Classics, 597}

01. Jackass Blues (3:15)
02. Static Strut (3:06)
03. The Stampede (3:17)
04. Jackass Blues (3:12)
05. Off To Buffalo (2:51)
06. Brotherly Love (2:58)
07. Alabamy Stomp (3:11)
08. The Henderson Stomp (2:53)
09. The Chant (2:57)
10. Sweet Thing (3:12)
11. I Need Lovin' (3:13)
12. Clarinet Marmalade (2:50)
13. Hot Mustard (2:41)
14. Sweet Thing (3:07)
15. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (2:57)
16. Some Of These Days (3:00)
17. Have It Ready (2:48)
18. Ain't She Sweet? (2:57)
19. Snag It (3:11)
20. Rocky Mountain Blues (2:47)
21. Tozo! (2:57)
22. Stockholm Stomp (2:57)
23. Have It Ready (2:47)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1927 {The Chronological Classics, 580}

01. Shuffling Sadle (3:04)
02. Fidgety Feet (2:59)
03. Sensation (2:50)
04. Wabash Blues (3:02)
05. The Wang-Wang Blues (2:54)
06. St. Louis Shuffle (3:01)
07. Swamp BLues (2:59)
08. Off To Buffalo (2:55)
09. St. Louis Shuffle (2:53)
10. Variety Stomp (3:06)
11. P.D.Q. Blues (2:43)
12. Livery Stable Blues (2:51)
13. Whiteman Stomp (2:47)
14. I'm Coming Virginia (3:07)
15. Cornfed! (2:51)
16. Variety Stomp (3:05)
17. The St. Louis Blues (3:06)
18. Hop Off (3:21)
19. Rough House Blues (3:13)
20. Black Maria (2:51)
21. Goose Pimples (3:02)
22. Baltimore (3:06)
23. A Rythmic Dream (3:12)
24. Hop Off (2:55)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1927-1931 {The Chronological Classics, 572}

01. Dear, On A Night Like This (2:48)
02. There's A Rickety Rackety Shack (By A Rickety Rockety Road) (3:12)
03. Sorry (3:08)
04. King Porter Stomp (2:54)
05. 'D' Natural Blues (3:26)
06. Oh, Baby! (2:48)
07. Feelin' Good (3:28)
08. I'm Feelin' Devilish (Oh By Golly Oh) (2:47)
09. Hop Off (2:47)
10. Old Black Joe's Blues (2:26)
11. Come On, Baby! (2:55)
12. Easy Money (3:06)
13. Freeze And Melt (3:07)
14. Raisin' The Roof (2:41)
15. Blazin' (2:57)
16. The Wang-Wang Blues (3:04)
17. Chinatown, My Chinatown (3:03)
18. Somebody Loves Me (3:03)
19. Keep A Song In Your Soul (3:21)
20. What Good Am I Without You? (3:20)
21. I've Found What I Wanted In You (3:21)
22. My Gal Sal (3:30)
23. My Pretty Girl (3:23)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1931 {The Chronological Classics, 555}

01. Sweet And Hot (3:28)
02. Clarinet Marmalade (3:14)
03. Sugar Foot Stomp (3:21)
04. Hot And Anxious (3:22)
05. Comin' And Going (3:11)
06. After You've Gone (3:07)
07. Stardust (3:00)
08. Tiger Rag (3:18)
09. Somebody Stole My Gal (3:11)
10. I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby (And My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Me) (3:14)
11. Sugar Foot Stomp (3:12)
12. Just Blues (3:11)
13. Singin' The Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home) (2:50)
14. Sugar Foot Stomp (3:09)
15. Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On (3:05)
16. Moan, You Moaners (3:19)
17. Singin' The Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home) (3:13)
18. Low Down On The Bayou (3:06)
19. The House Of David Blues (3:11)
20. Radio Rhythm (3:03)
21. You Rascal, You (3:07)
22. Oh, It Looks Like Rain (2:34)
23. Sweet Music (3:12)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1931-1932 {The Chronological Classics, 546}

01. My Sweet Tooth Says I Wanna (But My Wisdom Tooth Says No) (3:09)
02. Malinda's Weddin' Day (2:44)
03. You Rascal, You (3:10)
04. Blue Rhythm (2:52)
05. Sugar Foot Stomp (2:58)
06. Low Down On The Bayou (3:01)
07. 12th Street Rag (3:03)
08. Millenberg Joys (2:43)
09. Singin' The Blues (3:07)
10. It's The Darndest Thing (2:54)
11. Blues In My Heart (3:24)
12. Sugar (3:01)
13. Business In F (3:14)
14. Strangers (3:22)
15. Take Me Away From The River (3:20)
16. Say That You Were Teasing Me (2:48)
17. Take A Picture Of The Moon (3:03)
18. I Wanna Count Sheep (Till The Cows Come Home) (3:04)
19. Poor Old Joe (2:59)
20. Cosa Loma Stomp (3:14)
21. Blue Moments (2:52)
22. How Am I Doin', Hey Hey (3:13)
23. Goodbye Blues (3:02)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1932-1934 {The Chronological Classics, 535}

01. Honeysukle Rose (3:13)
02. New King Porter Stomp (3:08)
03. Underneath The Harlem Moon (3:15)
04. Yeah Man! (2:56)
05. King Porter's Stomp (2:57)
06. Queer Notions (2:50)
07. Can You Take It? (2:51)
08. Queer Notions (2:34)
09. It's The Talk Of The Town (3:34)
10. Night Life (3:27)
11. Nagasaki (3:28)
12. Hocus Pocus (3:19)
13. Phantom Fantasie (3:16)
14. Harlem Madness (3:31)
15. Tidal Wave (3:04)
16. Limehouse Blues (2:40)
17. Shanghai Shuffle (3:05)
18. Big John's Special (2:51)
19. Happy As The Day Is Long (2:48)
20. Tidal Wave (3:06)
21. Down South Camp Meetin' (2:59)
22. Wrappin' It Up (2:44)
23. Memphis Blues (2:34)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1934-1937 {The Chronological Classics, 527}

01. Wild Party (3:04)
02. Rug Cutter's Swing (3:04)
03. Hotter Than 'Ell (2:53)
04. Liza (All The Clouds 'll Roll Away) (2:39)
05. Christopher Columbus (3:04)
06. Big Chief De Sota (3:02)
07. Blue Lou (3:09)
08. Stealin' Apples (3:01)
09. I'm A Fool For Loving You (2:41)
10. Moonrise On The Lowlands (2:46)
11. I'll Always Be In Love With You (3:04)
12. Jangled Nerves (2:38)
13. Where Theres You There's Me (2:29)
14. Do You Or Don't You Love Me? (3:04)
15. Grand Terrace Rhythm (2:44)
16. Riffin' (2:25)
17. Mary Had A Little Lamb (2:51)
18. Shoe Shine Boy (3:35)
19. Sing, Sing, Sing (2:35)
20. Until Today (2:34)
21. Knock, Knock Who's There? (2:59)
22. Jim Town Blues (2:46)
23. You Can Depend On Me (3:32)
24. What Will I Tell My Heart? (3:30)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1937-1938 {The Chronological Classics, 519}

01. It's Wearin' Me Down (2:54)
02. Slumming On Park Avenue (2:30)
03. Rhythm Of The Tambourine (2:42)
04. Stampede (3:09)
05. Back In Your Own Backyard (2:34)
06. Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland) (3:01)
07. Great Caesar's Ghost (2:24)
08. If You Ever Should Leave (3:03)
09. Posin' (2:48)
10. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm (2:43)
11. Chris And His Gang (3:05)
12. Let 'Er Go (2:27)
13. Worried Over You (3:16)
14. What's Your Story (What's Your Jive) (2:38)
15. Trees (3:04)
16. If It's The Last Thing I Do (2:48)
17. Sing Your Sinners (2:44)
18. You're In Love With Love (3:07)
19. Stealin' Apples (3:04)
20. Don't Let The Rhythm Go To Your Head (2:31)
21. (I've Been) Saving Myself For You (2:53)
22. There's Rain In My Eyes (2:40)
23. What Do You Hear From The Mob In Scotland? (3:00)
24. It's The Litlle Things That Count (2:39)
25. Moten Stomp (2:44)



Horace Henderson & Fletcher Henderson - 1941 {The Chronological Classics, 648}

01. Shufflin' Joe (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:42)
02. Oh Boy, I'm In The Groove (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:57)
03. Kitty On Toast (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
04. I Got Rhythm (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:33)
05. You're Mine, You! (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:45)
06. Honeysuckle Rose (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
07. Chloe (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:59)
08. Swingin' and Jumpin' (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
09. They Jittered All The Time (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:46)
10. Sultan Serenade (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:37)
11. Ginger Belle (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:47)
12. Do Re Mi (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
13. When Dreams Come True (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:51)
14. I Still Have My Dreams (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:08)
15. Turkey Special (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:53)
16. Flinging A Whing-Ding (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:58)
17. Coquette (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:42)
18. You Don't Mean Me No Good (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:04)
19. Smooth Sailing (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:58)
20. Ain't Misbehavin' (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:02)
21. I'll Always Be In Love With You (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:41)
22. Let's Go Home (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:04)
23. A Pixie From Dixie (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:40)
24. We Go Well Together (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:26)
25. I Like My Sugar Sweet (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:29)