Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - Victor 38053 (1929)

Duke Ellington p, a, dir / Freddy Jenkins, Cootie Williams t / Johnny Hodges cl, ss, as / Harry Carney cl, as, bar / Barney Bigard cl, ts / Fred Guy bj / Wellman Braud sb / Sonny Greer d.

The Jungle Band - Brunswick 4705 (1929)

Duke Ellington p, a, dir / Arthur Whetsel, Freddy Jenkins, Cootie Williams t / Joe Nanton tb / Juan Tizol vtb / Johnny Hodges cl, ss, as / Harry Carney cl, as, bar / Barney Bigard, cl ts / Fred Guy bj / Wellman Braud sb / Sonny Greer d.

Recorded in New York on September 13, 1929.

Duke Ellington's Orchestra (Hot Dance Orchestra) - Victor 38045 (1929)

Duke Ellington p, a, dir / Arthur Whetsel, Freddy Jenkins, Cootie Williams t / Joe Nanton tb / Johnny Hodges cl, as, ss / Harry Carney cl, as, bar / Barney Bigard cl, ts / Fred Guy bj / Wellman Braud sb / Sonny Greer d.

Recorded in New York on February 18, 1929.

The Washingtonians - Harmony 557 (1928)

If memory serves me right, this was the first 78 I purchased on eBay back in the '90s. I do believe that I created my account after seeing this listing in order to bid.

Duke Ellington p, a, dir / Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf t / Joe Nanton tb / Otto Hardwick ss, as, bar / Harry Carney cl, as, bar / Barney Bigard cl, ts / Fred Guy bj / Wellman Braud sb / Sonny Greer d.

Recorded in New York on January 9, 1928.

Johnny Hodges & Orchestra (An Ellington Unit) - Bluebird 11021 (1940)

To me, there's not much that can compare to the sound of Hodges' alto.

Cootie Williams t / Lawrence Brown tb / Johnny Hodges as / Harry Carney bar / Duke Ellington p / Jimmy Blanton sb / Sonny Greer d / Billy Strayhorn a (Day Dream).

Recorded in Chicago on November 2, 1940

Edmond Hall's Swingtet - Blue Note 511 (1944)

Here is the first offering from the many Blue Notes I recently discovered. Incidentally, it was the only 10 inch 78 in the bunch.

From wikipedia…

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues.

Lion first heard jazz as a young boy in Berlin. He settled in New York in 1937, and shortly after the first From Spirituals to Swing concert, recorded pianists Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis in 1939 during a one-day session in a rented studio. The Blue Note label initially consisted of Lion and Max Margulis, a communist writer who funded the project. The label's first releases were traditional "hot" jazz and boogie woogie, and the label's first hit was a performance of "Summertime" by soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, which Bechet had been unable to record for the established companies. Musicians were supplied with alcoholic refreshments, and recorded in the early hours of the morning after their evening's work in clubs and bars had finished. The label soon became known for treating musicians uncommonly well - setting up recording sessions at congenial times, and allowing the artists to be involved in all aspects of the record's production.

Francis Wolff, a professional photographer, emigrated to the USA at the end of 1939 and soon joined forces with Lion, a childhood friend. In 1941, Lion was drafted into the army for two years. Milt Gabler at the Commodore Music Store offered storage facilities and helped keep the catalog in print, with Wolff working for him. By late 1943, the label was back in business recording musicians and supplying records to the armed forces. Willing to record artists that most other labels would consider to be uncommercial, in December 1943 the label initiated more sessions with artists such as pianist Art Hodes, trumpeter Sidney DeParis, clarinetist Edmond Hall, and Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson, who was returning to a high degree of musical activity after having largely recovered from a stroke suffered in 1940.

Edmond Hall cl / Benny Morton tb / Harry Carney bar / Don Frye p / Everett Barksdale g / Alvin Raglin sb / Sidney Catlett d.

Recorded in New York on May 5, 1944.

The Jungle Band - Brunswick 01145 (1931)

Duke Ellington p, a, dir / Arthur Whetsel, Freddy Jenkins, Cottie Williams t / Joe Nanton tb / Juan Tizol vtb / Johnny Hodges cl, as, ss / Harry Carney cl, as bar / Barney Bigard cl, ts / Fred Guy bj, g / Wellman Braud sb / Sonny Greer d.

Recorded in New York on January 20, 1931.

Johnny Hodges & His Orchestra - Vocalion 4941 (1939)

Johnny Hodges is, hands down, my favorite figure in all of jazz.

Cootie Williams t / Lawrence Brown tb / Johnny Hodges as / Harry Carney bar / Duke Ellington p / Billy Taylor sb / Sonny Greer d.

Recorded in New York on March 21 & June 2, 1939.