THE CHOCOLATE DANDIES

Biography

The Chocolate Dandies was not a single fixed band but rather a name used for several influential African American jazz ensembles active from the late 1920s through the 1940s. The name originated from the 1924 Broadway musical 'The Chocolate Dandies,' written by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, and was later adopted by jazz groups led by prominent musicians such as Don Redman and Benny Carter. The first jazz recordings under this name were made in 1928 by a small group drawn from McKinney's Cotton Pickers, with Don Redman as the de facto leader. This early lineup included jazz luminaries like Rex Stewart, J.C. Higginbotham, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, and Benny Carter, and was notable for its innovative arrangements and progressive style, sometimes experimenting with instrumentation and ensemble roles.

Throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, the Chocolate Dandies name was used for various small groups, often led by Benny Carter. These ensembles featured a rotating cast of some of the era's top jazz musicians, including Chu Berry, John Kirby, Max Kaminsky, Buck Clayton, and others from Carter's and Fletcher Henderson's bands. The group was known for its sophisticated swing arrangements, blending elements of big band, swing, and ragtime, and for pushing the boundaries of small group jazz with creative solos and ensemble interplay. Their recordings, such as 'Birmingham Breakdown' and 'Stardust,' are considered milestones in early jazz and helped set the stage for later developments in swing and modern jazz.

Although the Chocolate Dandies as a group ceased to exist after the 1940s, their legacy endures through their pioneering recordings and the influential careers of their members. The ensemble served as a proving ground for some of jazz's greatest talents and contributed significantly to the evolution of jazz ensemble playing, improvisation, and arrangement.

Fun Facts

• The group's name was inspired by a 1924 Broadway musical, and not originally conceived as a jazz band.
• Don Redman, the initial leader, chose to leave his name off the early record labels, allowing the ensemble's identity to stand on its own.
• The Chocolate Dandies sometimes recorded without drums, a rarity for jazz groups of the era, and experimented with dual saxophone and trumpet solos.
• Josephine Baker, before her rise to international stardom, was in the chorus line of the original 'Chocolate Dandies' Broadway show.

Members

• Leon “Chu” Berry
• Benny Carter
• Jimmy Harrison
• Coleman Hawkins
• Benny Jackson
• John Kirby
• George Stafford

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Eubie Blake - Composer of the original 1924 musical 'The Chocolate Dandies', whose work inspired the jazz ensembles' name and musical direction. (The Chocolate Dandies (musical)) [1924]
• Noble Sissle - Lyricist and co-author of the original musical; his work influenced the group's identity and repertoire. (The Chocolate Dandies (musical)) [1924]

Key Collaborators

• Don Redman - Band leader and arranger for the first Chocolate Dandies jazz recordings; key architect of the group's sound. (Chocolate Dandies (Okeh recordings, 1928-1929)) [1928-1929]
• Benny Carter - Led several Chocolate Dandies ensembles in the 1930s and 1940s, bringing in top jazz musicians. (Chocolate Dandies (various recordings, 1930s-1940s)) [1930s-1940s]
• Coleman Hawkins - Tenor saxophonist, featured in several Chocolate Dandies lineups. (Chocolate Dandies recordings) [1928-1930s]
• Fats Waller - Pianist and composer, part of early Chocolate Dandies sessions. (Chocolate Dandies recordings) [1928]
• Chu Berry - Saxophonist, member during the 1930s. (Chocolate Dandies recordings) [1930s]

Artists Influenced

• Count Basie - Adopted and expanded upon small group swing innovations pioneered by the Chocolate Dandies. (Count Basie Orchestra) [1930s-1940s]
• Lester Young - Influenced by the ensemble interplay and soloing style of the Chocolate Dandies. (Kansas City Six, Count Basie Orchestra) [1930s-1940s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Blue Interlude (Jazzuela. Julio Cortázar y el Jazz)
2. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
3. Dee Blues
4. Blue Interlude - 78rpm Version
5. I Never Knew
6. I Surrender Dear
7. Dedication
8. Got Another Sweetie Now
9. Paducah (Shag Nasty, Vol. 3: The Alternate Masters)
10. Six or Seven Times (Those Dirty Blues, Vol. 2)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #swing