Search - Fletcher Henderson :: Fletcher Henderson 1926 1927

In 1926 bandleader and composer Fletcher Henderson and arranger Don Redman were defining the possibilities of the large jazz band, arranging stomps and blues with tight sectional writing and an attention to detail that could make a big band swing. They were aided immensely by a collection of excellent soloists who could apply their jazz phrasing to the demanding charts. The band heard here included Coleman Hawkins, Rex Stewart, and trombonist Jimmy Harrison, as well as excellent rhythm players who could keep the ensemble charging. The group could bring its energy to a pop tune of the day, like "Ain't She Sweet," but originals such as "Henderson Stomp" and "Rocky Mountain Blues" really show it off to best effect. The Redman-Henderson team laid the groundwork for the swing bands that followed, but this is great music for its own sake. --Stuart Broomer