Fletcher Henderson - The Complete Fletcher Henderson 1927-1936 (2 LP, 1976/FLAC)

 "Complete" is in this case a relative term, meaning every recording by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra owned by RCA/Bluebird rather than every record he made during this period. A perfectly done two-LP set, these 34 songs include three from 1927 (featuring trumpeters Tommy Ladnier and Joe Smith at their best), 12 varying sides from 1931-32 (during which tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and trumpeters Rex Stewart and Bobby Stark make even the most commercial material into worthwhile music), a session from 1934 with trumpeter Red Allen and 15 numbers from 1936 that co-star trumpeter Roy Eldridge and Chu Berry on tenor. Throughout, the consistent high quality of the solos and the musicianship (even with some off moments) makes one regret that this classic orchestra was not more commercially successful. 

Side A

1. Shufflin' Sadie

2. St. Louis Shuffle

3. Variety Stomp

4. Sugar Foot Stomp

5. Roll On , Mississippi, Roll On

6. Moan You Moaners

7. Singin' The Blues

8. Oh, It Looks Like Rain

Side B

1. Sweet Music

2. My Sweet Tooth Says I Wanna

3. Malinda's Wedding Day

4. Strangers

5. Take Me Away From The River

6. I Wanna Count Sheep

7. Poor Old Joe

8. Hocus Pocus

Side C

1. Phantom Phantasie

2. Harlem Madness

3. Tidal Wave

4. I'm A Fool For Loving You

5. Moonrise On The Lowlands

6. I'll Always Be In Love With You

7. Jangled Nerves

8. Where There's You There's Me

9. Do You Or Don't You Love Me

Side D

1. Grand Terrace Rhythm

2. Riffin'

3. Mary Had A Little Lamb

4. Shoe Shine Boy

5. Sing, Sing, Sing

6. Until Today

7. Knock, Knock Who's There?

8. Jimtown Blues

9. You Can Depend On Me

    Alto Saxophone – Don Redman (tracks: A1 to A3), Hilton Jefferson (tracks: B8 to C3), Jerome Don Pasquall (tracks: C8 to D9), Russell Procope (tracks: B8 to C3)

    Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Harvey Boone (tracks: A4 to A7)

    Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Buster Bailey (tracks: C4 to D9), Omer Simeon (tracks: C4 to C7), Russell Procope (tracks: A4 to B7)

    Alto Saxophone, Violin – Edgar Sampson (tracks: A8 to B7)

    Banjo, Guitar – Charlie Dixon (tracks: A1 to A3)

    Bass – Israel Crosby (tracks: C4 to D9), John Kirby (tracks: B8 to C3)

    Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Buster Bailey (tracks: A1 to A3)

    Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Buster Bailey (tracks: B8 to C3)

    Cornet – Rex Stewart (tracks: A4 to B7)

    Drums – Kaiser Marshall (tracks: A1 to B7), Sid Catlett* (tracks: C4 to D3), Vic Angle* (tracks: B8 to C3), Walter Johnson (tracks: A4 to B7, D4 to D9)

    Guitar – Bernard Addison (tracks: B8 to C3), Bob Lessey (tracks: C4 to D9), Clarence Holiday (tracks: A4 to B7)

    Piano – Fletcher Henderson (tracks: A1 to C3)

    Piano [Either] – Fletcher Henderson (tracks: C4 to D9)

    Piano [Or] – Horace Henderson (tracks: C4 to D9)

    Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (tracks: A4 to C3), Elmer Williams (tracks: C4 to D9), Chu Berry* (tracks: C4 to D9)

    Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (tracks: A1 to A3)

    Trombone – Benny Morton (tracks: A1 to A7), Claude Jones (tracks: A4 to B3, B8 to C3), Ed Cuffee (tracks: C4 to D9), Fernando Arbello (tracks: C4 to D9), J.C. Higginbotham (tracks: B4 to B7), Jimmy Harrison (tracks: A1 to A3), Keg Johnson (tracks: B8 to C3), Sandy Williams (tracks: B4 to B7)

    Trumpet – Bobby Stark (tracks: A4 to B7), Dick Vance (tracks: C4 to D9), Henry "Red" Allen (tracks: B8 to C3), Joe Smith (3) (tracks: A1 to A3), Joe Thomas (4) (tracks: B8 to C7), Roy Eldridge (tracks: C4 to D9), Russell Smith (tracks: A1 to A7, B4 to B7), Tommy Ladnier (tracks: A1 to A3)

    Tuba – John Kirby (tracks: A4 to B7), June Cole (tracks: A1 to A3)