In early 1925, things were looking bright for the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. The bandleader had just gotten married to his beloved Leora and moved to a house on 139th Street in Harlem. The band was playing regularly at the Roseland paired with Sam Lanin’s Orchestra – with trumpeter Louis Armstrong doing a vocal set on Thursday nights that proved very popular.
On January 24, 1925, the Chicago Defender wrote: “Buster Bailey and Louis Armstrong are still the talk of B’way with Fletcher Henderson’s band. The Henderson orchestra has won themselves a place in the hearts of B’way dancers and are true musicians.”
Here we have a dance number arranged by Don Redman, “Alabamy Bound” that features a hot trumpet solo by Satch at 1:32 and a brief tenor sax solo by Coleman Hawkins at 1:58. I’m assuming Kaiser Marshall must have been in charge of those train effects and whistles during the intro and outro.
At 78 rpm my copy of this disc played in the key of F#, so I pitch-adjusted to G, the native key of “Alabamy Bound”. Hopefully, I did right – but if not, I know there are knowledgable horn players in the audience who will gently correct me. 😁
Recorded in New York City on January 30, 1925. This is take 3.
Released in the UK as Imperial 1420.
Released in the US as Banner 1488, Domino 3458, Oriole 347 and Regal 9789.
Credits:
Fletcher Henderson – piano, director
Louis Armstrong, Elmer Chambers, Howard Scott – 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
Sources:
Hendersonia, Walter C. Allen, p. 127-131, 156