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Take Two Deep Henderson
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King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators recorded Deep Henderson in April 1926. Composed by Fred Rose, it has nothing to do with Fletcher Henderson but relates to Henderson Creek which flows through Henderson County, Illinois or the section of the town of Henderson located on the Ohio River. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips, and finally vaudeville. Eventually, he became successful as a songwriter, penning his first hit for entertainer Sophie Tucker.
By this time, Louis Armstrong had left King Oliver's band and the line-up was Joe "King" Oliver (cornet); Bob Schoffner (trumpet); Kid Ory (trombone); Albert Nicholas (clarinet, soprano, & alto sax); Billy Paige (alto sax); Barney Bigard (clarinet, soprano, & tenor sax); Luis Russell (piano); Bud Scott (banjo); Bert Cobb (sousaphone) and Paul Barbarin (drums).
According to Tom Lord’s Jazz Discography, thirteen different bands recorded Fred Rose’s composition in 1926, the same year it was published in Chicago, with four other groups cutting the tune the following year in three different countries. It started out as a sad, bluesy number but by the time it was recorded by the Coon Sanders Nighthawk Orchestra and King Oliver it had become a far more upbeat tune. One website describes the King Oliver version:
'Oliver’s cornet immediately presages a much earthier, more personal account of the tune. The Dixie Syncopators’ tempo isn’t much slower than the Nighthawks, but their easygoing inflection and subtle backbeat make it sound like they’re taking their time. The saxophone section parts way for Barney Bigard’s slap-tonguing tenor, perhaps dated but undeniably percussive (and as texturally original as prepared piano or distorted guitar). Even the soprano sax adds a howling, haunting dimension to the clarinet trio. Drummer Paul Barbarin’s “Oh, play it Mr. Russell!” during Luis Russell’s solo plays up the informal air, yet such exclamations may or may not reveal the insidious, timeless hand of marketing. Improvisation and swing are the breaking news here: Oliver’s greasy responses over the saxes (especially heroic in light of his aging embouchure), and Kid Ory’s lurching, sly trombone over the closing chorus make this, the second recording of “Deep Henderson” pressed, a very distinct chapter of the tune’s short but hot history.
Listen to King Oliver's recording of Deep Henderson.
The tune became a popular dance number - although it is described as a 'Foxtrot', listening to it you can imagine the 'flappers' of the '20s and 30s' making the most of it, and if you watch videos of the band Tuba Skinny playing it on YouTube invariably it causes some of their street audience to dance.
In this Take Two series, I try to choose two different approaches that bands have taken to a tune. I have been quite surprised that although there are several versions available on YouTube from Ambrose to the Temperence Seven and Spencer's Nighthawks, most reflect the King Oliver arrangement.
So this first 'take' is from the French band Sharkey & Co. Jean-Pierre Morel, also known as Charquet or Sharkey Morel was born in 1943 in Grenoble. Playing cornet, kazoo, and alto horn he led Sharkey & Co in the 1970s playing at the Paris Club Caveau de la Montagne and at the International Traditional Jazz Festival Breda in 1976. He also played from 1968 with Les Haricots Rouges. He was awarded the Sidney Bechet prize in 1970. There are just one or two videos of Sharkey & Co on YouTube and the band seem to have recorded one self-titled album in 1969. Deep Henderson is one of the videos and it also appeared on the album.
The picture quality is not good, but I think the arrangement and the playing is worth our first 'Take' :
For the second 'Take', here is the Japanese Jazz / Ska band King Columbia playing their version of Deep Henderson. This is the only video I could find where a band tries to do something a little more adventurous with the tune. The location is a bit odd, but their commitment and enthusiasm is infectious.
Formed in 2002, King Columbia is a band of eight musicians that 'draws on good old-fashioned Swing Jazz and other several musical genres, including Calypso, Ska and Funk, and the band's musical style casts a new Jazz stream into Japanese music scene. The band has released one CD album and four 7 inch singles. In 2011 the band was featured at Rookie A Go Go stage in Fuji Rock Festival.' Here is their website which can be translated from the Japanese.
Here is their version of Deep Henderson :
I get the feeling that Deep Henderson is a largely forgotten tune that has the potential for new arrangements and approaches. If you know of any that we could share, please let us know.
Other pages you might find of interest :
© Sandy Brown Jazz 2020
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