One of my favorite of Henderson’s Red Vocalions: the first recording of W. C. Handy’s “The Gouge of Armour Avenue” that features one of the most inspired and legendary trombone solos of early jazz by Big Charlie Green.
Jazz Scholar Phil Schaap wrote a wonderful essay delving into the esoterica of mysteries surrounding this tune – and I link to it below:
https://www.philschaapjazz.com/essays/the-gouge-of-armour-avenue-a-legendary-trombone-solo-and-a-pronunciation
In it, we learn that “gouge” is pronounced as in “price gouging” – not “googe” as in “Scrooge” – and that Green’s solo was likely not an improvisation at all but was pre-composed. By who, we may never know.
In any case, it is massive, epic, and sounds fresh every time I hear it.
Recorded in New York City on July 31, 1924.
Released as Vocalion 14859
Credits:
Fletcher Henderson – piano, arranger, director
Elmer Chambers Howard Scott – cornet
Charlie Green – trombone
Don Redman – clarinet, alto sax
Coleman Hawkins – clarinet, tenor sax, baritone sax
Charlie Dixon – banjo
Ralph Escudero – tuba
Kaiser Marshall – drums
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