Henderson’s orchestra first recorded the Gene Rodemich song “Shanghai Shuffle” in October of 1924 for Pathé-Perfect, which was their second recording session with new cornetist Louis Armstrong, who had just moved to New York from Chicago, where he had been playing with King Oliver.
Here we have a slightly later version of the tune from a November session with Vocalion. The title is an Eastern-inspired dance band number – but as soon as Armstrong enters the ring at 0:59, the whole center of gravity changes and for over thirty glorious seconds, we are taken on a wild melodic ride. It’s tough to imagine the shock of how good – and novel – Armstrong’s approach was when this first came out. It still sounds fresh over 100 years later!
0:00 Intro
0:25 Ensemble
0:59 Trumpet solo (Armstrong)
1:32 Clarinet trio
1:50 Trombone solo (Green)
2:05 “Whoopee Hey Hey” (Redman) and Coda
An interesting bookend to this session is that the day before, on November 6, Armstrong recorded “Everybody Loves My Baby” with Clarence Williams’ Blue Five and on November 8, Armstrong recorded “Of All the Wrongs You Done to Me” with the Red Onion Jazz Babies.
It should be noted that the original lyrics to this tune are cringe and awful. Thankfully, both Henderson versions are instrumentals.
Recorded in New York City on November 7, 1924.
Released as Vocalion 14935.
Credits:
Fletcher Henderson – piano, director
Elmer Chambers, Howard Scott, Louis Armstrong – trumpet
Charlie Green – trombone
Buster Bailey – clarinet, alto sax
Don Redman – clarinet, alto sax, arranger
Coleman Hawkins – clarinet, tenor sax
Charlie Dixon – banjo
Ralph Escudero – tuba
Kaiser Marshall – drums
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