AMG Review of Crown King of Swing

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

In 1931 the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra recorded ten titles for the low-budget Crown label. This LP includes all ten numbers plus two alternate takes, giving Henderson's band a chance to play material generally not associated with their early brand of swing including such tunes as "After You've Gone," "Stardust," "Tiger Rag" and even "Twelfth Street Rag." Although not essential (only the remake of "Sugar Foot Stomp" is classic), it is interesting to hear trumpeters Bobby Stark and Rex Stewart, trombonist J.C. Higginbottham and tenorman Coleman Hawkins soloing on this unlikely material.