Stardust
LP Savoy Jazz SJL 1152
In the 20s his orchestra was considered the leading one but in the beginning of the following decade Fletcher Henderson and his men had to struggle like everyone else in the music business. Recording sessions were few, and the small company Crown did not survive the depression making the titles on this LP rare.
Now the band was named the “Connie’s Inn Orchestra” since it got the prestigious job of working in the big venue in Harlem, New York.
Hoagy Carmichael’s most famous composition was played and recorded by many and in this case it was arranged by Bill Challis of Jean Goldkette and Paul Whiteman fame.
Rex Stewart plays the cornet solo at the end and his sound does not make me think about one of his heroes Bix Beiderbecke at all, but the phrasing does. (It has been suggested that it’s a written down chorus by Challis in Bix style.) Furthermore, the tune itself is inspired by the great Bix, who at the time was in bad health and soon would leave this world behind..