Chocolate Dandies - Vocalion 1646 (1931)

Here we, arguably, have the first recordings by the Mills Blue Rhythm Band.

Many claim this one was the first but still others say that they were not recorded by the same outfit.

Wardell Jones, Shelton Hemphill, Ed Anderson t / Harry White, Henry Hicks tb / Crawford Wethington cl, as, bar / Ted McCord cl, ts / Edgar Hayes p, a / Benny James bj / Hayes Alvis sb / Willie Lynch d / Dick Robertson v.

Recorded in New York on January 30, 1931.


Fess Williams & His Joy Boys - Vocalion 15690 (1928)

From wikipedia...

Dave Peyton (ca. 1885 – May 1955) was an American songwriter, pianist, arranger, orchestra leader, and music critic columnist for the Chicago Defender.

Peyton first began as a pianist in the trio of Wilbur Sweatman, where he played from 1908 to 1912. Following this Peyton led his own ensembles in various theaters in Chicago. His sidemen included Charlie Allen, George Mitchell, Bob Shoffner, Reuben Reeves, Kid Ory, Bud Scott, Jasper Taylor, Jimmy Bertrand, Baby Dodds, Preston Jackson, Darnell Howard, Jerome Don Pasquall, and Lee Collins. While he only recorded under his own name once (with Richard M. Jones), his orchestra also recorded in 1928 under Fess Williams's name. In the 1930s he led an orchestra at the Regal Theater, and later played solo piano in bars and nightclubs. He also worked as a music contractor, filling orchestras with personnel upon request.

Peyton is best remembered for his songs, some of which became major hits; among them were the standard "I Ain't Got Nobody" and the tunes "Hey Stop Kissin' My Sister" and "Roumania", both performed by Fats Waller.

Fess Williams cl, dir / Fats Robinson t, o / Reuben Reeves t / Eddie Atkins, William Franklin tb / Ralph Brown as, o / Norval Morton ts, f / Clarence Lee, Bobby Wall, Joe McCutchin vn / p / Lawrence W. Dixon bj / Sudie Reynaud sb / Jasper Taylor d.

Recorded in Chicago on April 3, 1928.


The Harlem Music Masters / Louis Armstrong & His Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra - Okeh 41468 (1930)

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, chimes.

Recorded in New York on October 30, 1930.


Louis Armstrong t, v / George Orendorff, Harold Scott t / Luther Graven tb / Les Hite as, bar, ldr / Marvin Johnson as / Charlie Jones cl, ts / Henry Prince p / Bill Perkins bj, g / Joe Bailey sb / Lionel Hampton d, vib.

Recorded in Los Angeles on October 9, 1930.