HORACE HENDERSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940 + FLETCHER HENDERSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1941 | The Classics Chronological Series – 648 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Horace Henderson spent most of his career in the shadow of his brother Fletcher, even though he was actually a superior pianist and a comparable arranger. Other than an all-star session that he headed in 1933, Horace did not make his first recordings as a leader until 1940, when he led a regular (if short-lived) big band. Five sessions resulted in 21 titles, all of which are included on this very enjoyable CD. Most notable among Henderson's sidemen are trumpeter Emmett Berry, tenorman Elmer Williams, and Ray Nance (shortly before he joined Duke Ellington) on trumpet, violin, and the vocal to "They Jittered All the Time." This excellent swing CD, which has plenty of "killer dillers," is rounded off by a four-song session by Fletcher Henderson's 1941 big band, cut shortly before it broke up. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

CHICK WEBB AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1929-1934 (1990) The Classics Chronological Series – 502 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The perfect way to acquire drummer Chick Webb's recordings is to get his two Classics CDs which contain all of his performances as a leader, other than Ella Fitzgerald's features (which are in a separate Ella series) and a few numbers from Webb's final dates. On the first of the CDs, Webb leads a pickup band in 1929 (for "Dog Bottom" and "Jungle Mama"), an early orchestra in 1931 (highlighted by the first version ever of Benny Carter's "Blues in My Heart"), two numbers from 1933, and all of his classic swing sides of 1934. With arranger/altoist Edgar Sampson providing such compositions as "When Dreams Come True," "Don't Be That Way," "Blue Lou," and "Stompin' at the Savoy" (all of which would become better-known for their slightly later Benny Goodman recordings), trumpeter Taft Jordan taking some vocals purposely influenced by Louis Armstrong, Jordan, trombonist Sandy Williams, and tenor saxophonist Elmer Williams coming up with consistently hot solos, and the drummer/leader driving the orchestra, this was one of the top jazz big bands of the era. Highly recommended as is Classics' 1935-1938 Chick Webb volume. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    The Jungle Band-    Dog Bottom 2:40
Vocals – Ward Pinkett
2    The Jungle Band–    Jungle Mama    3:19
3    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Heebie Jeebies 3:08
Arranged By – Benny Carter
4    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Blues In My Heart 3:09
Arranged By – Benny Carter
Vocals – Louis Bacon
5    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Soft And Sweet 3:07
Arranged By – Benny Carter
6    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    On The Sunny Side Of The Street 2:54
Vocals – Taft Jordan
7    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Darktown Strutters' Ball    2:51
8    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    When Dreams Come True    3:23
9    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Let's Get Together 3:05
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
10    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    I Can't Dance (I Got Ants In My Pants) 2:58
Vocals – Taft Jordan
11    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Imagination 3:25
Vocals – Chuck Richards
12    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Why Should I Beg For Love 3:07
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
Vocals – Taft Jordan
13    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Stompin' At The Savoy    3:11
14    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Blue Minor 2:47
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
15    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    True 2:44
Vocals – Charles Linton
16    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    Lonesome Moments 2:45
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
17    Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra–    If It Ain't Love 3:00
Vocals – Charles Linton
18    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    That Rhythm Man 2:57
Vocals – Taft Jordan
19    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    On The Sunny Side Of The Street 2:50
Vocals – Taft Jordan
20    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Lona 2:49
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
21    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Blue Minor 3:06
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
22    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    It's All Over Because We're Through 3:17
Vocals – Taft Jordan
23    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Don't Be That Way    2:38
24    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    What A Shuffle 2:57
Arranged By – Edgar Sampson
25    Chick Webb And His Orchestra–    Blue Lou    3:07
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Edgar Sampson (tracks: 6 to 25), Pete Clark (tracks: 6 to 25)
Banjo, Guitar – John Trueheart
Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby (tracks: 6 to 25)
Brass Bass, Bass [String Bass] – Elmer James (tracks: 1 to 5)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter (tracks: 3 to 5), Hilton Jefferson (tracks: 1 to 5), Louis Jordan (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Elmer Williams
Drums – Chick Webb (tracks: 1, 3 to 25)
Piano – Don Kirkpatrick (tracks: 1 to 5, 18 to 25), Joe Steele (tracks: 6 to 17)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver (tracks: 14 to 25)
Trombone – Robert Horton (tracks: 1, 2), Claude Jones (tracks: 18 to 25), Fernando Arbello (tracks: 14 to 17), Jimmy Harrison (tracks: 3 to 5), Sandy Williams (tracks: 6 to 25)
Trumpet – Bobby Stark (tracks: 14 to 25), Edwin Swayzee (tracks: 1, 2), Louis Bacon (tracks: 3 to 5), Louis Hunt (tracks: 3 to 5), Mario Bauzá (tracks: 6 to 25), Reunald Jones (tracks: 6 to 13), Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 3 to 5), Taft Jordan (tracks: 6 to 25), Ward Pinkett (tracks: 1, 2)

CHICK WEBB AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1935-1938 (1990) The Classics Chronological Series – 517 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

To a large extent, the Chick Webb big band is now chiefly remembered as the launching pad for Ella Fitzgerald, but during its peak years it was one of the top swing bands. This 25-song CD from the European Classics label reissues all of the band's recordings from a three-year period that did not feature Fitzgerald as a solo singer; she does make a brief appearance on "Wake up and Live." Although there are nine vocals on this set (including three from a young Louis Jordan), the emphasis is very much on the band's instrumental talents. Such soloists as trumpeters Taft Jordan and Bobby Stark, trombonist Sandy Williams, Elmer Williams and Ted McRae on tenors, and altoist Edgar Sampson are heard from while the drummer/leader propels the ensembles. A special highlight are the four numbers by Chick Webb's Little Chicks, an unusual quintet featuring the pioneering jazz flutist Wayman Carver and clarinetist Chauncey Haughton. This CD is highly recommended to swing fans. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1     Down Home Rag 2:52
Sam M. Lewis / Wilbur Sweatman
2     Are You Here to Stay? 3:11
Kenneth Harrison / Edgar Sampson
3     Moonlight and Magnolias 2:51
Dizzy Gillespie
4     I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful) 3:03
Harry Ruskin / Henry Sullivan
5     Facts and Figures 2:33
Edgar Sampson
6     Go Harlem 2:20
James P. Johnson / Andy Razaf
7     Love Marches On 2:52
Charles Tobias
8     There's Frost on the Moon  2:49
Fred E. Ahlert / Victor Young
9     Gee But You're Swell 2:37
Charles Tobias
10     Rusty Hinge 3:06
Lew Brown
11     Wake up and Live 2:37
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
12     It's Swell of You 3:12
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
13     Clap Hands! Here Comes Charlie 2:31
Ballard MacDonald / Joseph Meyer / Billy Rose
14     That Naughty Waltz 3:01
Sol P. Levy / Edwin Stanley
15     In a Little Spanish Town 2:40
Sam M. Lewis / Mabel Wayne / Joe Young
16     I Got Rhythm 2:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
17     I Ain't Got Nobody 3:02
Roger Graham / Dave Peyton / Spencer Williams
18     Strictly Jive 3:17
Chick Webb & His Orchestra
19     Sweet Sue, Just You 2:44
Will J. Harris / Victor Young
20     Squeeze Me 3:10
Fats Waller / Clarence Williams
21     Harlem Congo 3:14
Harry White
22     Midnite in a Madhouse (Midnite in Harlem) 2:33
Larry Clinton
23     Azure 3:12
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
24     Spinnin' the Webb 3:04 3:04
Ella Fitzgerald / Chick Webb
25     Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) 2:45
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Gus Kahn
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Edgar Sampson (tracks: 1 to 14), Louis Jordan (tracks: 18, 20 to 25), Pete Clark (2) (tracks: 1 to 14)
Banjo, Guitar – John Trueheart (tracks: 1 to 14)
Bass [String Bass] – Beverly Peer (tracks: 15 to 25), Bill Thomas (3) (tracks: 3 to 14), John Kirby (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Chauncey Haughton (tracks: 15 to 25)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Ted McRae (tracks: 6 to 14, 18, 20 to 25)
Drums – Chick Webb
Guitar – Bobby Johnson (tracks: 18, 20 to 25)
Piano – Don Kirkpatrick (4) (tracks: 1 to 14), Tommy Fulford (tracks: 15 to 25)
Tenor Saxophone – Elmer Williams (tracks: 1 to 5)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Trombone – Claude Jones (tracks: 1 to 5), George Matthews (2) (tracks: 23 to 25), Nat Story (tracks: 6 to 14, 18, 20 to 25), Sandy Williams (tracks: 1 to 14, 18, 20 to 25)
Trumpet – Bobby Stark (tracks: 1 to 14, 18, 20 to 25), Mario Bauzá (tracks: 1 to 14, 18, 20 to 25), Taft Jordan (tracks: 1 to 14, 18, 20 to 25)