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Released January 12, 1999

As a entrée into Fletcher Henderson's sizeable catalog, this EPM sampler works quite nicely. Sporting good sound and a tidy 20 tracks, Father of the Big Band follows the jazz innovator from his early days with Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins (the trumpeter was a major reason the band advanced so rapidly from 1924-1925) up through the progressively leaner years of the '30s. Full of first-tier arrangements by Don Redman, Benny Carter, and both Fletcher and brother Horace Henderson, the disc thankfully emphasizes quality material over the many novelty songs the band cut with increasing frequency during the '30s. The collection is also blessed with high quality contributions by Henderson's fully loaded roster, which over the course of some 12 years included Rex Stewart, Ben Webster, Chu Berry, Russell Procope, Henry "Red" Allen, and J.C. Higginbotham, among many other jazz luminaries of the time. Before delving deep into Henderson's catalog via Classics' many chronological titles, check this disc out first to settle on the years you like best. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

TRACKS

1. Sugar Foot Stomp
2. Sensation
3. Wabash Blues
4. I'm Coming Virginia
5. St. Louis Blues
6. King Porter Stomp
7. Sugar Foot Stomp
8. Just Blues
9. The House of David Blues
10. Can You Take It?
11. Happy Feet
12. I've Got to Sing a Torch Song
13. Down South Camp Meeting
14. Wrappin' It Up
15. Hotter Than 'Ell
16. Blue Lou
17. Moonrise on the Lowlands
18. You Can Depend on Me
19. Rhythm of the Tambourine
20. Back in Your Own Backyard

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