“Hot Mustard” – Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra (1926)

An original Henderson composition (though some say he may have bought the tune – then “The Thundermug Stomp” – from Fats Waller) here wonderfully arranged by Don Redman.

Joe Smith’s trumpet leads us into the tune, followed by a bit of Coleman Hawkins’ Tenor Sax. An exhilarating clarinet trio leads a call-and-response with June Cole’s strikingly recorded tuba. Fine trumpet work by Tommy Ladnier leads eventually to a beautiful piano solo by Smack himself – followed by the Hawk restating the lead before the coda.

Recorded in New York on Wednesday, December 8, 1926.
Released as Vocalion 15497 and Vocalion 1065.

Credits
Fletcher Henderson – piano
Russell Smith, Joe Smith, Tommy Ladnier – trumpet
Benny Morton – trombone
Buster Bailey – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Don Redman – clarinet, alto sax
Coleman Hawkins – clarinet, tenor sax
Charlie Dixon – banjo
June Cole – tuba
Kaiser Marshall – drums