HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Fletcher Henderson

Birth of Jazz: Fletcher Henderson

Fletcher Henderson

Born in Georgia on 18 December 1897, pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, Fletcher Henderson, was a major alternative to Paul Whiteman, their audiences largely as different as white from black, Henderson's the latter. Whiteman's outfit concerned itself with jazz in the greater context of popular dance music; Henderson's was a genuine jazz orchestra. Henderson traveled to New York in 1920 to acquire his master's in chemistry. But employment as of 1921 as recording director for the new Black Swan label pulled him away from science to music. It was 1921 that Henderson put together his Novelty Orchestra to back Katie Crippen on 'Blind Man Blues' and 'Sing 'Em for Mamma, Play 'Em for Me'. He backed several vocalists on recordings that year, including Alberta Hunter and Ethel Waters, the latter with whom he toured. Personnel listed herein from 1921-1924 is from the Rau sessionography which differs somewhat from Lord and Rust. Titles below include a few for which two takes in a session saw release on the same issue number. These are not distinguished and could be from either master.

'Blind Man Blues' Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra

Vocal: Katie Crippen Henderson's 1st recording issued

Trumpet: Unknown Trombone: Chink Johnson Clarinet: Garvin Bushell

Piano: Willie Gant Violin: Cordy Williams

Recorded c February/March 1921 in NYC Matrix P-103-2 Black Swan 2003 A

Composition: Green / Clarke

'Sing 'Em for Mamma, Play 'Em for Me' Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra

Vocal: Katie Crippen Henderson's 2nd recording issued

Recorded c February/March 1921 in NYC Matrix P-104-1 Black Swan 2003 B

Trumpet: Unknown Trombone: Chink Johnson Clarinet: Garvin Bushell

Piano: Willie Gant Violin: Cordy Williams

Composition: Clarence Williams

'Sing 'Em for Mamma, Play 'Em for Me' Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra

Vocal: Katie Crippen Henderson's 3rd recording issued

Recorded c February/March 1921 in NYC Matrix P-104-2 Black Swan 2003 B

Trumpet: Unknown Trombone: Chink Johnson Clarinet: Garvin Bushell

Piano: Willie Gant Violin: Cordy Williams

Composition: Clarence Williams

'Home Again Blues' Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra

Vocal: Lulu Whidby Henderson's 4th & 5th recordings issued

Recorded c 1 April 1921 in NYC Matrices P108-1 / P108-2 Both on Black Swan 2005 B

Trumpet: Unknown Trombone: Chink Johnson ? Clarinet: Edgar Campbell

Piano: Fletcher Henderson Violin: Cordy Williams Banjo: Unknown

Composition: Harry Akst / Irving Berlin

'Strut Miss Lizzie' Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra

Vocal: Lulu Whidby Henderson's 6th & 7th recordings issued

Recorded c 1 April 1921 in NYC Matrices P109-1 / P109-2 Both on Black Swan 2005 A

Trumpet: Unknown Trombone: Chink Johnson ? Clarinet: Edgar Campbell

Piano: Fletcher Henderson Violin: Cordy Williams Banjo: Unknown

Composition: Henry Creamer / Turner Layton

In 1922 Fletcher employed alto saxophonist, Don Redman, as his arranger. Among the more notable who played in Henderson's organization through the years were Benny Carter, Buster Bailey, Coleman Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, Henry Red Allen, Chu Berry, Doc Cheatham, Roy Eldridge and Sun Ra. Henderson was also an important figure in the development of big band swing, noted for his arrangements and compositions for Benny Goodman.

'West Indian Blues' Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra

Recorded Oct 1923 in NYC Ajax 17009

Trumpet: Elmer Chambers Trombone: Teddy Nixon Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins

Alto sax / clarinet: Don Redman Piano: Henderson

Banjo: Charlie Dixon Bass sax: Billy Fowler

Composition: Williams / Dowell

'Charley My Boy' Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 30 July 1924 in NYC Regal 9680

Trumpet: Elmer Chambers / Howard Scott Trombone: Charlie Green

Tenor / baritone sax: Coleman Hawkins Alto sax / clarinet: Don Redman

Piano: Henderson Banjo: Charlie Dixon

Bass brass: Ralph Escudero Drums: Kaiser Marshall

Music: Ted Fio Rito Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'The Stampede' Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 14 May 1926 in NYC Columbia 654-D

Cornet: Rex Stewart / Joe Smith Trumpet: Russell Smith

Trombone: Benny Morton Tenor sax / clarinet: Coleman Hawkins

Alto & soprano sax / clarinet: Buster Bailey / Don Redman

Piano: Henderson Banjo: Charlie Dixon

Bass brass: Ralph Escudero Drums: Kaiser Marshall

Composition: Fletcher Henderson

'Sweet Thing' Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 19 Nov 1926 in NYC

Issued on 'Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra 1926-1930' VJM VLP-42 / 1981

Trumpet: Russell Smith / Joe Smith / Tommy Ladnier

Trombone: Benny Morton Tenor & baritone sax / clarinet: Coleman Hawkins

Alto & soprano sax / clarinet: Buster Bailey / Don Redman

Piano: Henderson Banjo: Charlie Dixon

Tuba / vocal: June Cole Drums: Kaiser Marshall

Composition: Williams / Kahn / Verges

'Big John's Special' Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 11 Sep 1934 in NYC Decca 214

Trumpet: Russell Smith / Irving Randolph / Henry Red Allen

Trombone: Claude Jones / Keg Johnson Tenor sax: Ben Webster

Alto sax / clarinet: Russell Procope / Hilton Jefferson Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Piano: Henderson Guitar: Horace Lucie

Bass: Elmer James Drums: Walter Johnson

Composition: Fletcher Henderson

'Let's Go Home' Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Recorded 24 April 1941 in NYC Matrices CO-37307-1 / CO-37307-2 Both on Columbia 36214

Trumpet: Alec Fila / Russell Smith / Peanuts Holland

Trombone: Benny Morton / Sandy Williams Tenor sax: Mickey Folus / Freddie Mitchell

Alto sax / clarinet: Eddie Barefield Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Piano: Henderson Guitar: John Collins

Bass: Ted Sturgis Drums: Walter Johnson

Composition: S. Williams-Holland

'Chartreuse' Fletcher Henderson Sextet backing Dick Vance

Radio broadcast in NYC 'Cafe Society Downtown' 21 Dec 1950

Vinyl LP: Alamac QSR2444 CD: RST 91736

Trumpet: Dick Vance Clarinet: Eddie Barefield Tenor sax: Lucky Thompson

Piano: Henderson Bass: John Brown Drums: Jimmy Crawford

Composition: Billy Moore Jr. / J. Leslie McFarland

'Soft Winds' Fletcher Henderson Sextet

Radio broadcast in NYC 'Cafe Society Downtown' 21 Dec 1950

Vinyl LP: Alamac QSR2444 CD: Solid Sender SOL517 / Musica Jazz MJCD1103 / RST 91736

Trumpet: Dick Vance Clarinet: Eddie Barefield Tenor sax: Lucky Thompson

Piano: Henderson Bass: John Brown Drums: Jimmy Crawford

Composition: Benny Goodman

If one figure a fairly full recording career for the average musician at about 300 sessions, Henderson well-exceeded that largely via radio broadcasts. Henderson died in NYC on 29 December 1952.

Sources & References for Fletcher Henderson:

Encyclopedia

Tim Harding (The early influence of Louis Armstrong on Coleman Hawkins, as mediated by Fletcher Henderson / 2015)

Just the Swing

James Nadal

New World Encyclopedia

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow

Henderson in Film: IMDb

Recordings by Henderson (catalogs):

45 Worlds