Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - Rug Cutter's Swing ~1934

James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, born in 1897 in Cuthbert, Georgia, the son of a principal and a teacher. By 13, everyone knew he had a penchant for reading music and a marvelous sense of pitch. After getting his bachelors degree in chemistry and mathematics, he pursued his masters degree in New York City. His roommate, a pianist in a riverboat orchestra became ill one night and Henderson took his place, which would change the course of his life. Starting out as the musical director for newly formed Black Swam Records, he would also often play piano accompaniment for blues singers that would record. In 1924 he would leave Black Swan and found his own band, working as the house band at the Club Alabam. Amongst the early band members was a 20 year old Louis Armstrong. Almost overnight, they gained a reputation as the best African American band in NYC. The band consisted of Buster Bailey, Charlie Dixon, Charlie Green, Coleman Hawkins, Fletcher Henderson, Joe Smith, Ralph Escudero.

During the 1930's, Henderson recorded for Columbia, Crown, American Record Corporation, Victor and Decca (which is what we have here with Brunswick in England being owned by Decca). All in all, he produced 80 sides. Even with such a reputation, it didn't extend outside of New York, and he was relatively unknown. Management wasn't his strong suit and although he never had trouble finding talent, he did have trouble keeping it. The great depression was taking its toll as well and by 1934, the band was on the brink of breakup and he was forced to sell some of his popular arrangements to Benny Goodman. This started a working relationship between the two that would see Henderson through the tough times and still get his music and name heard. In 1939, Henderson left his own band to join Goodman's as an arranger and pianist, and then full-time as a staff arranger. He would be with Goodman's band until suffering a stroke in 1950 resulting in partial paralysis. He would pass away in 1952. Although not the biggest player in the game, Henderson still helped establish the formula for the entire swing music genre, and he was the one responsible for bringing Louis Armstrong from Chicago to New York City, starting New York's rise to the top of the jazz world.

This is "Rug Cutter's Swing", arranged by Henderson himself with his little brother Horace's help. This is one of four songs played during the group's last ever recording session, taking place in New York City on September 25, 1934. The musicians involved are as follows: Russell Smith, Irving Randolph & Henry "Red" Allen (trumpet), Keg Johnson & Claude Jones (trombone), Buster Bailey, Hilton Jefferson & Russell Procope (clarinet, alto saxophone), Benny Carter (alto saxophone), Ben Webster (tenor saxophone), Fletcher Henderson (piano, arranger), Horace Henderson (piano, arranger), Lawrence Lucie (guitar), Elmer James (bass), Walter Johnson (drums)