Taking their name from a show written by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, a small group led by Don Redman recorded in the late ’20s as the Chocolate Dandies. Redman also used the name for some McKinney’s Cotton Pickers record dates but during the early ’30s the name was picked up by other musicians, notably Benny Carter, who used it for a string of fine recordings he made with Coleman Hawkins and others. Carter revived the name in the early ’40s, again with Hawkins in the band and often creating timeless miniature masterpieces of small group jazz.
Thanks to Uncle Dave Lewis for his help with this page.
| Title | Recording Date | Recording Location | Company |
| Blue Interlude (Benny Carter) |
10-10-1933 | New York, New York | Decca 18255 |
| Birmingham Break-Down (Duke Ellington) |
10-13-1928 | New York, New York | Okeh 8668 |
| Bugle Call Rag (Irving Mills / Jack Pettis / Elmer Schoebel) |
12-3-1930 | New York, New York | Columbia 2543-D Columbia 36008 |
| Cloudy Skies (Coleman Hawkins) |
12-3-1930 | New York, New York | Columbia 35679 |
| Dee Blues (Benny Carter) |
12-3-1930 | New York, New York | Columbia 2543-D Columbia 36008 |
| Four Or Five Times (Hellman / Gay) |
10-13-1928 | New York, New York | Okeh 8627 |
| Goodbye Blues (Benny Carter) |
12-3-1930 | New York, New York | Columbia 35679 |
| Got Another Sweetie Now (Harrison) |
12-3-1930 | New York, New York | Columbia 36009 |
| I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me (Clarence Gaskill / Jimmy McHugh) |
5-25-1940 | New York, New York | Commodore 1506-B |
| I Never Knew (Ted Fiorito / Gus Kahn) |
10-10-1933 | New York, New York | Columbia 2875 |
| I Surrender Dear (Gordon Clifford / Harry Barris) |
5-25-1940 | New York, New York | Commodore 1506-A |
| Krazy Kapers (Benny Carter) |
10-10-1933 | New York, New York | Okeh 41568 |
| Once Upon A Time (Benny Carter) |
10-10-1933 | New York, New York | Okeh 41568 Decca 18255 |
| Puducah (Don Redman) |
10-13-1928 | New York, New York | Okeh 8627 |
| Smack! (Leonard Feather) |
5-25-1940 | New York, New York | Commodore 533 |
| Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael) |
10-13-1928 | New York, New York | Okeh 8668 |
| Artist | Instrument |
| Cuba Austin | Drums |
| Chu Berry | Tenor Saxophone |
| Benny Carter | Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Arranger |
| Sid Catlett | Drums |
| Langston Curl | Trumpet |
| Roy Eldridge | Trumpet |
| Ralph Escudero | Tuba |
| Coleman Hawkins | Tenor Saxophone |
| Jimmy Harrison | Vocals |
| Horace Henderson | Piano |
| Ernest Hill | Bass |
| Clarence Holiday? | Guitar |
| Benny Jackson? | Guitar |
| Lonnie Johnson | Guitar |
| Claude Jones | Trombone |
| Max Kaminsky | Trumpet |
| John Kirby | Bass, Tuba |
| Lawrence Lucie | Guitar |
| Mezz Mezzrow? | Drums |
| John Nesbitt | Trumpet |
| Floyd O’Brien | Trombone |
| Don Redman | Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Arranger |
| Todd Rhodes | Piano |
| Prince Robinson | Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone |
| Milton Senior | Clarinet, Alto Saxophone |
| George Thomas | Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals |
| Bobby Stark | Trumpet |
| Dave Wilborn | Banjo, Vocals |
| Teddy Wilson | Piano |
