The Chocolate Dandies was a name used by a number of different jazz ensembles in the United States from the 1920s into the 1940s.

The name Chocolate Dandies originally came from a 1924 stage show written by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle. A unit led by Don Redman was the first to record with it on the Okeh label in 1928-1929. He also recorded with McKinney’s Cotton Pickers and released material with that ensemble under this name. Benny Carter had several ensembles in the 1930s which he called the Chocolate Dandies; versions of these groups continued to play into the 1940s, and counted among their members Coleman Hawkins, Max Kaminsky, Floyd O’Brien, Buck Clayton, and other members of Carter’s and Fletcher Henderson’s bands.

ALBUMS


The Chocolate Dandies
1928/1940
1993, CD, Comp, EPM Musique, Jazz Archives (2), ,
Swing
Benny Carter Featuring The Chocolate Dandies, Mezz Mezzrow And His Orchestra
Devil's Holiday 1933 - 1934
1991
Coleman Hawkins, The Chocolate Dandies And Leonard Feather's Allstars*
The Chocolate Dandies And Leonard Feather's Allstars 1940 And 1943
1979, ,
Swing
The Chocolate Dandies
The Chocolate Dandies 1928-33
1967, ,
Swing
Bennie Carter*, The Chocolate Dandies
Visages Du Jazz N°6
1960, 7", EP, Comp, Mono, RCA
Les Chocolate Dandies*
Goodbye Blues / Bugle Call Rag / Dee Blues / Cloudy Skies
1960
Chu Berry's Little Jazz Ensemble* / Coleman Hawkins' Chocolate Dandies*
Tops In Tenor
1957,
The Chocolate Dandies / Eddie Condon & His Orchestra*
Six Or Seven Times / The Eel
1945, Shellac, 10", Parlophone
The Chocolate Dandies
Goodbye Blues / Cloudy Skies
1940
The Chocolate Dandies
I Surrender Dear / I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
1940
The Chocolate Dandies / Coleman Hawkins And His Rhythm
Smack! / Dedication
1940, ,
Swing
Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra / Chocolate Dandies*
The House Of David Blues / I Never Knew
1939, Shellac, 10", RE, United Hot Clubs Of America, United Hot Clubs Of America
The Chocolate Dandies
Once Upon A Time / Krazy Kapers
1939, ,
Swing
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra* / The Chocolate Dandies
What Can A Poor Fellow Do? / Krazy Kapers
1935, Shellac, 10", Parlophone
The Chocolate Dandies / Claude Hopkins And His Orchestra
I Never Knew / Marie
1934, Shellac, 10", Parlophone
The Chocolate Dandies
Blue Interlude / I Never Knew
1934, Shellac, 10", Parlophone, ,
Big Band/Swing
The Chocolate Dandies / Chick Webb's Savoy Orch.*
I Never Knew / On The Sunny Side Of The Street
1934, Shellac, 10", blu, Columbia,
The Chocolate Dandies / Horace Henderson & His Orch.*
Blue Interlude / Happy Feet
1934
Horace Henderson & His Orch.* / The Chocolate Dandies
Ain't Cha Glad / Once Upon A Time
1934
Emmett Miller / The Chocolate Dandies
The Ghost Of St. Louis Blues / Dee Blues
1932
The Dorsey Brothers And Their New Dynamiks / Chocolate Dandies*
But I Can't Make A Man / Goodbye Blues
1931, Shellac, 10", Parlophone
Luis Russell And His Orchestra / The Chocolate Dandies
Panama / Got Another Sweetie Now
1931, Shellac, 10", Parlophone,
Chocolate Dandies*
Straddle The Fence / Levee Low Down
1931, Shellac, 10", Vocalion (2)
Chocolate Dandies*
Loveless Love / One More Time
1931, Shellac, 10", Vocalion (2),
O.K. Rhythm Kings / The Chocolate Dandies
Casa Loma Stomp / Dee Blues
1931
Chocolate Dandies* / Fred Rich And His Orchestra
Bugle Call Rag / Body And Soul
1931
Chocolate Dandies*
Bugle Call Rag / Dee Blues
1931
The Chocolate Dandies / Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra
Star Dust / Save It Pretty Mamma For Me
1930
Chocolate Dandies*
Star Dust / Birmingham Break-Down
1929, Shellac, 10", Okeh,
Chocolate Dandies* / Five Little Chocolate Dandies*
Paducah / Four Or Five Times
1928
Coleman Hawkins, The Chocolate Dandies
King Of The Tenor Sax
7", EP, Metronome,
The Chocolate Dandies
Got Another Sweetie Now / Dee Blues
Shellac, 10", Odeon
The Chocolate Dandies
I Never Knew / Krazy Kapers
Shellac, 10", Parlophon
The Chocolate Dandies / Earl Hines
Once Upon A Time / I Ain't Got Nobody
Shellac, 10", Odeon
The Chocolate Dandies
Bugle Call Rag / Blue Interlude
Shellac, 10", Parlophon
The Chocolate Dandies
The Chocolate Dandies (1928 - 1933)
10", Comp, Odeon
The Chocolate Dandies
Star Dust / Bugle Call Rag
Shellac, 10", Odeon
Luis Russell And His Orchestra / The Chocolate Dandies
Case On Dawn / Straddle The Fence
Shellac, 10", Brunswick
The Chocolate Dandies / Don Redman And His Orchestra
Dee Blues / Chant Of The Weed
Shellac, 10", Columbia
Joe Venuti's Blue Four, The Chocolate Dandies
Man From The South / Star Dust
Shellac, 12", Odeon
The Chocolate Dandies
The Big Aces
LP, Comp, RE, Red, Odeon
The Chocolate Dandies / Luis Russell And His Orchestra
Cloudy Skies / Doctor Blues
The Chocolate Dandies / Horace Henderson And His Orchestra
Krazy Kapers / I'm Rhythm Crazy Now
Chu Berry And His Jazz Ensemble / Coleman Hawkins And Chocolate Dandies*
Immortal Swing Sessions 1938 - 1943
,
Swing
The Chocolate Dandies / Luis Russell & His Orchestra*
Bugle Call Rag / The New Call Of The Freaks

APPEARANCES +


Chu Berry*
Classic Chu Berry Columbia And Victor Sessions
2007, Box, Ltd, Num + 7xCD, Comp, RM, Mosaic Records (2), ,
Big Band/Swing
Lonnie Johnson
Playing With The Strings
2004
Coleman Hawkins
Henderson Days
2003, CD, Album, Comp, Saga Jazz
Coleman Hawkins
Bean Soup
1999, ,
Bop
Coleman Hawkins
Body And Soul
1993, CD, Comp, Classic Jazz (3)
Benny Carter And His Orchestra
1940-1941
1992
Benny Carter And His Orchestra
1939-1940
1991, CD, Comp, Classics (11), ,
Swing
Coleman Hawkins
1926/1940
1991
Various
Jazz Masters Of The Keyboard Vol. I
1982,
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra / The Little Chocolate Dandies
Doin' The New Low Down / Six Or Seven Times
Lonnie Johnson
The Lonnie Johnson Collection, 1925-52
2015, 2xCDr, Comp, Acrobat, ,
Swing/Dixieland/Chicago Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Benny Carter
The Benny Carter Collection 1927-47
2013, CD, Comp, Mono, RE, RM, Fabulous (3), ,
Big Band/Swing
Coleman Hawkins
Classic Coleman Hawkins Sessions 1922-1947
2012, 8xCD, Comp + Box, Ltd, Num, Mosaic Records (2), ,
Swing
Various
Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology
2011, 6xCD, Comp, Smithsonian Folkways, ,
Bop/Contemporary Jazz/Ragtime/Big Band/Swing/Hard Bop/Cool Jazz/Latin Jazz
Various
La Grande Histoire Du Jazz - Au Temps Du Ragtime Et Du Swing / From Ragtime To Swing, 1898-1952, CD No 1-25
2010, Box + 25xCD, Comp, Le Chant Du Monde,
Earl Okin
Earl Okin's Gramophone Show 4
2009, File, MP3, 128, Not On Label
Various
Great Jazz On Small U.S. Labels 1938-1947
2009, 2xCD, Comp, Frémeaux & Associés
Various
Those Dirty Blues, Volume 2
2009, CD, Album, Comp, Grammercy Records
Various
Swing Time - All-Star Swing Groups With Their Most Famous Recordings
2008, Box, Comp + 100xCD, Comp + CD, Ind, Documents, ,
Swing/Big Band
Coleman Hawkins
Body And Soul
2007, CD, Comp, Edel Records, ,
Bop/Swing
Benny Carter
Lazy Afternoon
2007, 2xCD, Comp, Le Chant Du Monde, ,
Big Band/Swing/Ragtime
Benny Carter
Waltzing The Blues
2007, CD, Comp, Edel Records, ,
Big Band/Swing
Coleman Hawkins
The Essential Sides Remastered 1929 - 1939
2006, 4xCD, Comp, RM, JSP Records, ,
Gypsy Jazz/Swing/Big Band
Various
Cities Of Jazz Kansas City (The Original Sounds Of Kansas City)
2006, CD, Comp, Cities Of Jazz,
Benny Carter
The Music Master
2006, ,
Swing/Big Band
Coleman Hawkins
The Bebop Years
2006, ,
Bop
Various
The Ultimate Jazz Archive - Set 04/42
2005, 4xCD, Comp, Sif, Membran Music Ltd., ,
Ragtime/Dixieland
Various
The Ultimate Jazz Archive
2005, 168xCD, Comp + Box, Membran, ,
Ragtime/Dixieland/Swing/Big Band/Bop/Boogie Woogie/Dark Jazz/Delta Blues/Chicago Blues/Electric Blues/Memphis Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Various
History Of Jazz - 1940
2005, CD, Comp, HCD (3)
Various
The Big Broadcast - Volume 1 (Jazz And Popular Music Of The 1920s And 1930s)
2005, CD, Comp, Rivermont
Various
History Of Jazz 1917-1939
2005, Box, Comp + 8xCD, Comp, Top Jazz (4), ,
Bop/Swing/Big Band
Various
History Of Jazz 1940-1947
2005, Box, Comp + 8xCD, Comp, Top Jazz (4), ,
Bop/Swing/Big Band
Roy Eldridge
Little Jazz Trumpet Giant
2004, 4xCD, Comp, RM, Proper Records (2), ,
Swing/Big Band
Teddy Wilson
New York - Chicago 1933-1950
2003, 2xCD, Comp, Frémeaux & Associés, ,
Swing
Various
The Legendary Tenor Saxophonists: 1922-1940
2003, CD, Comp, RM, Jazz Legends,
Hoagy Carmichael
The First Of The Singer Songwriters (Key Cuts 1924-1946)
2003
Various
Classic Jazz: The Thirties
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Time Life Music, Universal Music Special Markets,
Various
Les Trésors Du Jazz 1898-1943
2002, 10xCD, Comp + Box, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, Le Chant Du Monde, ,
Dixieland/Swing
Various
Romantic Jazz
2001, CD, Comp, Lifestyles, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Various
1929
2001, CD, Comp, Jazz Magazine (2)
Various
1946
2001, CD, Comp, Jazz Magazine (2),
Benny Carter
The Alternative Takes In Chronological Order Volume 2 (1940 - 1946)
2001, CD, Comp, RM, Neatwork
Various
Alto Sax Story 1937/1950
2001, CD, Comp, RM, EPM Musique,
Coleman Hawkins And Chu Berry*
Tenor Giants
2000, CD, Comp, GRP, ,
Swing
Various
Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words From the Harlem Renaissance
2000, 4xCD, Comp + Box, Rhino Records (2),
Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Django Reinhardt, Billie Holiday
Jazz The Essential Collection Vol. 4
2000, 5xCD, Comp, In+Out Records, ,
Swing/Big Band/Gypsy Jazz/Vocal
King Oliver
Farewell Blues (Vocalion & Brunswick Recordings Volume 2)
2000, CD, Comp, Frog (7),
Various
Humph's Choice
2000, 2xCD, Comp, Universal Classics & Jazz UK
Various
Jazz Early Days
2000, 2xCD, Comp, Mono, Disky, ,
Easy Listening
Various
Jazz Cats - Last Call Jazz
2000, CD, Comp, Columbia River Entertainment Group,
Various
Jazz Cats - Coffee Break Jazz
2000, CD, Album, Comp, Columbia River Entertainment Group
Various
Jazzuela - Julio Cortázar Y El Jazz
2000
Various
Harlem Jazz (The 30s)
1999, CD, Comp, ABM
Roy Eldridge
Little Jazz Vol. 2 1936/1946
1999, CD, Comp, RM, EPM Musique, Jazz Archives (2)
Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Lester Young, Jack Teagarden, Count Basie
Jazz The Essential Collection Vol. 3
1998, 5xCD, Comp, In+Out Records, ,
Bop/Swing/Big Band
Benny Carter
All Of Me
1998, CD, Comp, Marshall Cavendish
Roy Eldridge
Little Jazz
1998, CD, Comp, Marshall Cavendish, ,
Swing
Various
Jazz Age! Hot Sounds Of The 20s & 30s
1998,
Various
The Commodore Story
1997, ,
Vocal/Dixieland/Swing
Various
RCA Victor 80th Anniversary • The First Label In Jazz • Vol.3 1940-1949
1997
Various
Inspired By The Motion Picture Kansas City
1996, CD, Comp, Giants Of Jazz,
Various
Selection Of The Cities Where Jazz Was Born - The Original Sounds Of Kansas City - De Luxe
1996, ,
Big Band/Swing/Bop
Various
The History Of Jazz - New York / The Jazz Age
1994, 2xCD, Comp, Disky
Various
1933-1934/2 I Grandi Successi
1994, CD, Comp, DeAgostini,
Various
Blue & Sentimental
1994, CD, Album, Comp, Avid Records, ,
Easy Listening/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Clarinet Marmalade - 25 Great Jazz Clarinettists
1994, CD, Comp, ASV,
Benny Carter
Volume 3 1933-1934 (Complete Edition)
1993, CD, Comp, Média 7
Benny Carter
An Introduction To Benny Carter - His Best Recordings 1929-1940
1993, CD, Comp, Best Of Jazz
Various
Swing Time! The Fabulous Big Band Era 1925-1955
1993, ,
Big Band/Swing/Dixieland
Benny Carter
Skyline Drive And Towards
1993, ,
Swing/Bop
Benny Carter
Volume 1 - 1928-1931 - Complete Edition
1992, CD, Comp, Média 7
Benny Carter And His Orchestra
1940-1941
1992, ,
Swing/Big Band/Vocal
Coleman Hawkins
Picasso (1929-1949)
1992, ,
Swing
McKinney's Cotton Pickers
1928-1929
1991, ,
Dixieland/Ragtime
King Oliver And His Orchestra*
1930-1931
1991
Benny Carter And His Orchestra
1933-1936
1990, CD, Comp, Classics (11), ,
Swing
Benny Carter
Re Bop Boogie
1990, ,
Big Band
Benny Carter And His Orchestra
1929-1933
1990, ,
Swing/Big Band
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
1989, LP, Comp, Musica Jazz
Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
1988, LP, Comp, Musica Jazz
Various
The Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings Volume I
1988, 23xLP, Comp + Box, Ltd, Mosaic Records (2), ,
Swing/Stride/Vocal/Ballad
Various
The Commodore Jazz Sampler — "Classics In Swing" (1938-1944)
1988, CD, Comp, Mono, Smplr, Commodore, ,
Big Band/Swing
Coleman Hawkins / Frank Wess
Giants Of The Tenor Sax
1988
Various
The Smithsonian Collection Of Classic Jazz
1987, ,
Free Jazz/Bop/Ragtime/Dixieland/Modal/Swing/Hard Bop/Big Band
Various
Them Dirty Blues (A Five Record Copulation Compilation)
1987, ,
Erotic
Benny Carter
The Benny Carter Collection
1987
Various
The 1930s: The Small Combos
1987, ,
Bop/Swing
Various
Copulating Rhythm Volume 2
1986, LP, Comp, Jass Records, ,
Country Blues/Piano Blues/Big Band/Erotic
Benny Carter
Benny Carter
1986, LP, Comp, Musica Jazz
Various
52nd Street Swing The Commodore Years
1986, 4xLP, Comp, Mono, Club, Book-Of-The-Month Records, ,
Swing/Boogie Woogie
Coleman Hawkins
Il Classico Coleman Hawkins
1983, LP, Comp, Musica Jazz, ,
Bop/Swing
Hawkins*, Young*, Carter*, Hodges*
Jazz Masters Of The Sax
1983, ,
Swing
Various
Stormy Weather (1933)
1983
Waller*, Tatum*, Hines*, Wilson*
Jazz Masters Of The Keyboard Vol. I
1982,
Benny Carter
Giants Of Jazz: Benny Carter
1980, ,
Swing/Big Band
Various
The Guitarists
1980, ,
Dixieland/Gypsy Jazz/Swing
Various
Jazz Legends
1979, 11xLP, Comp, Club, Ltd + Box, Poljazz, ,
Dixieland
Coleman Hawkins
Giants Of Jazz: Coleman Hawkins
1979, ,
Big Band/Swing
Hawk* & Chu*
The Big Sounds Of Coleman Hawkins & Chu Berry
1979
Various
Sweet And Low Blues: Big Bands And Territory Bands Of The 20s
1977, LP, Comp, Mono, New World Records, ,
Big Band
Various
Jive At Five (The Style-Makers Of Jazz 1920s-1940s)
1976, LP, Comp, Mono, New World Records, ,
Swing/Big Band/Stride
Various
50 Years Of Jazz Guitar
1976
John Kirby
Boss Of The Bass
1976
Coleman Hawkins
Recordings Made Between 1930 And 1941
1973, 2xLP, Comp, CBS, ,
Swing
Coleman Hawkins & Frank Wess
The Tenor Sax: Coleman Hawkins & Frank Wess
1973, ,
Bop
Various
Jazz Bands 1926-1930
1970,
Various
Jazz Anthology - From King Oliver To Ornette Coleman
1969,
Chick Webb
Stompin' At The Savoy
1968
Hawk* & Chu*
The Great Swinging Tenor Saxophones
1968, ,
Swing
Various
The Jazz Story Volume 3 (Rare Records Of The Men And The Music: The Swinging Years)
1964
Various
Jazz Volume 9: Piano
1960, LP, Album, Comp, Mono, Folkways Records
Various
Great Jazz Reeds
1958, ,
Dixieland/Big Band/Swing
Various
The RCA Victor Encyclopedia Of Recorded Jazz: Album 12 Ven-Z
1956, ,
Swing
Various
Jazz Volume 11: Addenda
1953,
Various
Jazz Vol. 9: Piano
1953
Various
Gems Of Jazz Vol. 4
1942
Various
Hot Trombones
1941,
Various
Odeon Swing Music Series Vol. 2
LP, Comp, Odeon, ,
Swing
Various
Odeon Swing Music Series Vol. 6
LP, Comp, Odeon, ,
Swing
Various
Odeon Swing Music Series Vol. 7
LP, Comp, Odeon, ,
Swing
Various
Odeon Swing Music Series Vol. 10
LP, Comp, Odeon, ,
Swing
Various
Odeon Swing Music Series Vol. 12
LP, Comp, Odeon, ,
Swing/Big Band
Various
Muggsy, Tesch And The Chicagoans Vol. 2
CD, Comp, Mono, Village
Various
Hoagy Carmichael - Volume One
CD, Comp, RM, JSP Records
Various
The History Of Jazz Vol.1
LP, Album, Comp, Mono, Columbia,
Lonnie Johnson
Playing With The Strings
Chu Berry And His Jazz Ensemble, Coleman Hawkins With Leonard Feather's All Stars*
Immortal Swing Sessions 1938 - 1943
Various
Untitled
Acetate, LP, Unofficial, Emidisc (3),