ROSA HENDERSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 1 (1923) DOCD-5401 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

All of classic blues singer Rosa Henderson's recordings are available on four CDs from the Austrian Document label. The first volume mostly has Henderson accompanied by pianist Fletcher Henderson (no relation), with one number apiece with sidemen from Henderson's early band and the Virginians. The young tenor Coleman Hawkins pops up on "It Won't Be Long Now," while cornetist Thomas Morris and pianist Louis Hooper help out on two numbers. None of the 22 songs on this CD became hits but quite a few are memorable, including "I Ain't No Man's Slave," "So Long to You and the Blues," "He May Be Your Dog But He's Wearing My Collar," and "Got the World in a Jug, the Stopper's in My Hand." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    I'm Broke Fooling With You  3:15
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
2.    I Ain't No Man's Slave  3:16
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
3.    Good Woman's Blues  3:10
Piano – Wendell P. Talbert
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
4.    I'm Broke Fooling With You  3:01
Piano – Wendell P. Talbert
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
5.    Where (Can That Somebody Be)  2:52
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
6.    Down South Blues  3:09
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
7.    Afternoon Blues  3:09
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
8.    I Need You  3:15
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
9.    Midnight Blues (A Wee Hour Chant)  3:08
Alto Saxophone – Don Redman
Banjo – Charlie Dixon
Bass Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Clarinet – Edgar Campbell 
Cornet [Either/Or] – Elmer Chambers, Howard Scott 
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Trombone – Teddy Nixon
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
10.    So Long To You And The Blues  3:26
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
11.    If You Don't Give Me What I Want (I'll Get It Somewhere Else)  3:10
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
12.    Low-Down Papa (Sweet Mamma's Blues)  3:02
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
13.    Struttin' Blues  3:08
Alto Saxophone – Don Clark, Hale Byers
Banjo – Mike Pingitore
Brass Bass – Jack Barsby
Clarinet – Ross Gorman
Cornet – Frank Siegrist, Henry Busse
Orchestra – The Virginians
Piano – Ferdie Grofe
Trombone – Sammy Lewis
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
14.    It Won't Be Long Now  3:06
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
15.    Every Woman's Blues (12070)  2:55
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
16.    Every Woman's Blues (12071)  2:49
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
17.    I Want My Sweet Daddy Now  3:15
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
18.    He May Be Your Dog But He's Wearing My Collar  3:06
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
19.    Got The World In A Jug (The Stopper's In My Hand)  3:10
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
20.    When You Walked Out (Someone Else Walked Right In)  3:15
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
21.    He's Never Gonna Throw Me Down 2:54
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
22.    Every Day Blues  2:43
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson 

ROSA HENDERSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 2 (1924) DOCD-5402 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second of four Document CDs that reissue all of the recordings of the classic blues singer Rosa Henderson mostly has the vocalist accompanied by the unrelated pianist Fletcher Henderson and his sidemen (including cornetist Joe Smith, altoist Don Redman, and tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins) or by the Choc Choo Jazzers, a small group with pianist Cliff Jackson. Best among the 23 selections are "I'm a Good Gal But I'm a Thousan' Miles From Home," "West Indies Blues," "My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time," "Strut Yo' Puddy," and "Somebody's Doing What You Wouldn't Do." Although she would eventually slip into obscurity, Rosa Henderson was one of the better blues singers of the period. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Rosa Henderson–    I'm A Good Gal (But I'm A Thousan' Miles From Home)  3:10
Banjo – Charlie Dixon
Clarinet – Don Redman
Cornet – Elmer Chambers
Orchestra – Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Trombone – Teddy Nixon
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
2.    Rosa Henderson–    Papa Will Be Gone  3:26
Banjo – Charlie Dixon
Clarinet – Don Redman
Cornet – Elmer Chambers
Orchestra – Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Trombone – Teddy Nixon
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
3.    Rosa Henderson–    Hey Hey And He He, I'm Charleston Crazy  2:53
Cornet – Joe Smith 
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
4.    Rosa Henderson–    Do Right Blues  3:22
Cornet – Joe Smith 
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
5.    Rosa Henderson–    Goin' Home  2:12
Piano [Poss.] – Porter Grainger
Steel Guitar – Lincoln M. Conaway
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
6.    Rosa Henderson–    West Indies Blues (42602)  2:18
Piano [Poss.] – Porter Grainger
Steel Guitar – Lincoln M. Conaway
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
7.    Rosa Henderson–    How Come You Do Me Like You Do  3:18
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
8.    Rosa Henderson–    My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time  3:05
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
9.    Rosa Henderson–    Clearing House Blues  2:57
Banjo – Charlie Dixon
Clarinet – Don Redman
Cornet – Elmer Chambers
Orchestra – Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Speech [Male], Vocals [Male] – Unknown Artist
Trombone – Teddy Nixon
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
10.    Rosa Henderson–    West Indies Blues (12846/47)  2:59
Banjo – Charlie Dixon
Clarinet – Don Redman
Cornet – Elmer Chambers
Orchestra – Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Speech [Male], Vocals [Male] – Unknown Artist
Trombone – Teddy Nixon
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
11.    Rosa Henderson–    Back Woods Blues  2:42
Cornet [Prob.] – Howard Scott 
Orchestra – Henderson And His Orchestra
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
12.    Rosa Henderson–    Four-Flushin' Papa  3:09
Cornet [Prob.] – Howard Scott 
Orchestra – Henderson And His Orchestra
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
13.    Rosa Henderson–    Black Star Line (A West Indian Chant)  2:48
Piano – Edgar Dowell
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
14.    Rosa Henderson–    Barbadoes Blues  2:52
Effects – Unknown Artist
Piano – Edgar Dowell
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
15.    Rosa Henderson–    Chicago Monkey Man Blues  3:13
Piano – Edgar Dowell
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
16.    Rosa Henderson–    How'm I Gonna Get 'em (When You Keep On Holding 'Em Back)  3:11
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
17.    Rosa Henderson–    Barrel House Blues (13252)  3:03
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
18.    Rosa Henderson–    My Right Man  3:12
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
19.    Rosa Henderson Featured Vcl With Fletcher Henderson And His Club Alabam Orchestra–    Do That Thing  3:07
Banjo – Charlie Dixon
Brass Bass – Ralph Escudero
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Don Redman
Cornet – Elmer Chambers, Howard Scott 
Drums – Kaiser Marshall
Orchestra – Fletcher Henderson And His Club Alabam Orchestra
Piano – Fletcher Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Teddy Nixon
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
20.    Rosa Henderson–    I Can't Get The One I Want  2:54
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Trumpet – Harry Smith 
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
21.    Sally Ritz–    Barrel House Blues (5555)  3:16
Piano – Edgar Dowell
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
22.    Rosa Henderson And Choo Choo Jazzers–    Strut Yo' Puddy  2:53
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Trumpet [Prob.] – Rex Stewart
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
23.    Rosa Henderson And Choo Choo Jazzers–    Somebody's Doing What You Wouldn't Do 2:56
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson 

ROSA HENDERSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 3 (1924-1926) DOCD-5403 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth and final CD in Document's Rosa Henderson series finishes off her recording career with nine numbers from 1926, a dozen from 1927, and two from 1931. Most notable are six numbers in which Rosa Henderson is accompanied by the great stride pianist James P. Johnson (including "Black Snake Moan" and "Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik"). Other selections have her assisted by the Three Hot Eskimos, the Four Black Diamonds, pianist Cliff Jackson, and cornetist Louis Metcalf. A perfectly done reissue series paying tribute to a talented if forgotten classic blues singer of the 1920s.  Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Rosa Henderson, Choo Choo Jazzers–    Hard-Hearted Hannah  2:58
Cornet [Prob.] – Rex Stewart
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
2.    Sally Ritz–    Deep River Blues  3:02
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Poss.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
3.    Sally Ritz–    The Basement Blues  2:55
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Poss.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
4.    Rosa Henderson–    Don't Advertise Your Man  3:46
Banjo [Prob.] – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet [Prob.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Rex Stewart, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Kansas City Five 
Piano [Prob.] – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
5.    Rosa Henderson–    Twelfth Street Blues  2:48
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
6.    Rosa Henderson–    Memphis Bound (31677)  3:10
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
Whistle [Train-whistle] – Unknown Artist
7.    Rosa Henderson–    Memphis Bound (31678)  3:00
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
Whistle [Train-whistle] – Unknown Artist
8.    Rosa Henderson–    Undertaker's Blues  3:47
Banjo [Prob.] – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet [Prob.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Rex Stewart, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Kansas City Five 
Piano [Prob.] – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
9.    Rosa Henderson–    Everything My Sweetie Does (Pleases Me)  3:02
Banjo [Prob.] – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet [Prob.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Rex Stewart, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Kansas City Five 
Piano [Prob.] – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
10.    Rosa Henderson–    It Takes A Two Time Papa  2:52
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
11.    Rosa Henderson–    Nobody Knows The Way I Feel 'Dis Mornin' 2:51
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
12.    Rosa Henderson–    Penitentiary Bound Blues  2:56
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
13.    Rosa Henderson–    12th Street Blues  2:54
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
14.    Rosa Henderson–    Get It Fixed  2:48
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
15.    Rosa Henderson–    Low Down Daddy Blues  3:00
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
16.    Rosa Henderson–    Poplar Bluff Blues  2:28
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
17.    Rosa Henderson–    An' I Don't Mean If  2:52
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
18.    Rosa Henderson–    You Can't Be Like My Last Man Was  2:50
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Three Jolly Miners
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
19.    Rosa Henderson–    Let's Talk About My Sweetie  2:54
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
20.    Rosa Henderson–    Mama Is Waitin' For You  3:01
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
21.    Mamie Harris–    You Get Mad  2:51
Piano – Fats Waller
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
22.    Mamie Harris–    What's The Matter Now?  2:40
Piano – Fats Waller
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
23.    Rosa Henderson–    Here Comes My Baby  3:03
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Three Hot Eskimos
Piano [Poss./Or] – Cliff Jackson
Piano [Prob./Or] – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson

ROSA HENDERSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 4 (1926-1931) DOCD-5404 (1995) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth and final CD in Document's Rosa Henderson series finishes off her recording career with nine numbers from 1926, a dozen from 1927, and two from 1931. Most notable are six numbers in which Rosa Henderson is accompanied by the great stride pianist James P. Johnson (including "Black Snake Moan" and "Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik"). Other selections have her assisted by the Three Hot Eskimos, the Four Black Diamonds, pianist Cliff Jackson, and cornetist Louis Metcalf. A perfectly done reissue series paying tribute to a talented if forgotten classic blues singer of the 1920s. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Chicago Policeman Blues  2:53
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Three Hot Eskimos
Piano [Poss./Or] – Cliff Jackson
Piano [Prob./Or] – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
2.    Daddy, Come Back  2:55
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Four Black Diamonds
Piano [Poss./Or] – Edgar Dowell, Louis Hooper
Piano [Prob./Or] – Louis Hooper
Trombone – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
3.    I've Got Somebody Now  2:46
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Four Black Diamonds
Piano [Poss./Or] – Edgar Dowell, Louis Hooper
Piano [Prob./Or] – Louis Hooper
Trombone – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
4.    Rough House Blues (A Reckless Woman's Lament)  2:56
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
5.    She Belongs To Me (He Belongs To Me)  2:53
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
6.    He's My Man  3:11
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
7.    In That Apartment Upstairs  3:03
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
8.    Papa, If You Can't Do Better  2:37
Clarinet [Poss.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Poss.] – Louis Metcalf
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
9.    I'm Saving It All For You  2:49
Clarinet [Poss.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Poss.] – Louis Metcalf
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
10.    Git Goin'  2:52
Cornet – Demus Dean
Piano – Porter Grainger
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
11.    Some Day You'll Come Back To Me  2:44
Cornet – Demus Dean
Piano – Porter Grainger
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
12.    Slow Up Papa  3:01
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
13.    Hock Shop Blues  3:10
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
14.    Black Snake Moan  2:44
Piano – James P. Johnson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
15.    Fortune Teller Blues  2:35
Piano – James P. Johnson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
16.    Gay Catin' Daddy  2:48
Piano – James P. Johnson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
17.    I'm Saving It All For You  2:50
Piano – James P. Johnson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
18.    You Can't It Unless I Give It To You  2:41
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
19.    Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues  3:04
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
20.    Police Blues  3:03
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
21.    Never Let Your Left Hand Know  2:29
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
22.    Doggone Blues  3:11
Piano – James P. Johnson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
23.    Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik  3:19
Piano – James P. Johnson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson

FATS WALLER – 1922-1926 | The Chronogical Classics – 664 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Anyone who's fallen in love with Fats Waller's music and wants to delve a bit deeper than "greatest hits" should explore what young Mr. Waller managed to achieve on phonograph records during the 1920s. American labels have been frustratingly slow to release material from this fascinating period in Waller's artistic evolution, despite the fact that he began recording at the age of 18, a full 12 years before the first Fats Waller & His Rhythm sessions initiated his fairly rapid rise to fame. Two piano solos from 1922 grant listeners an exciting glimpse of a solidly able young Waller, fresh from his personal training under James P. Johnson's wing. These two solos belong at the head of any Fats Waller piano anthology, yet they didn't make it onto Bluebird's Turn on the Heat, an otherwise excellent double CD mainly devoted to the commercially issued Victor solos from 1927-1941.
Much of the material on Classics 664 consists of female vocals (mostly blues, a few topical jazz novelties, and a somber pair of spirituals) accompanied by Waller's piano. The art of accompanying was an essential component of the Harlem stride pianist's job description, and Waller did it as skillfully as James P. Johnson. Alberta Hunter's duet with Waller is one of the best examples here, along with two titles featuring the amazing Rosa Henderson. Even the sleepier numbers featuring less-punchy vocalists are still worth absorbing and appreciating. There's a very rare example of Porter Grainger taking a vocal on Waller's "In Harlem's Araby" and a pair of funny duets featuring Sara Martin and Clarence Williams. "Squabbling Blues" must be rare indeed, as the original 78 rpm platter used in this compilation has a very rough start and even skips briefly -- -collectors expect this sort of thing from the Document label, but never from Classics. Fortunately, the song is so satisfying, one quickly forgets the technical foibles.
But the main reason to obtain a copy of this CD is for the two titles featuring Clarence Williams and his friend Clarence Todd on kazoos, with Waller's sure-footed piano and an eccentric percussionist named Justin Ring (he shows up on certain Eddie Lang sessions from the late '20s). "West Indies Blues," in particular, is the prize in this package; the sound of two grown men unashamedly wailing away on their kazoos is guaranteed to help prevent listeners from taking reality too seriously. A must for collectors and a healthy experience for all who are interested in early jazz. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

FLETCHER HENDERSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1924, Vol. 2 | The Classics Chronological Series – 657 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist + Credits :