WETF - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra, 1934

These are the twelve sides recorded by, I would argue, the greatest edition of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra.  In effect a swan song, these were recorded in the fall of 1934 for the brand new Decca label just before the band broke up in November, with Henderson moving on to begin his association with Benny Goodman before reforming his band in 1936.  This group features solos from just about everyone except lead trumpet Russell Smith .  .Irving Randolph and Red Allen on trumpets, Keg Johnson and Claude Jones on trombone, Hilton Jefferson, Russell Procope and for one number Benny Carter on alto sax, Ben Webster on tenor sax, Buster Bailey on clarinet, Fletcher and Horace Henderson on piano, Lawrence Lucie on guitar, Elmer James on bass and Walter Johnson on drums, with arrangements by the Hendersons, Carter, Russ Morgan and Will Hudson.  The first recordings of the Swing Era were these!

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