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Six Or Seven Times

The Chocolate Dandies

Benny Carter , Bobby Johnson, Cyrus St Clair, Don Redman , Fats Waller, George Stafford, J C Higginbotham, Leonard Davis , Rex Stewart

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This recording was produced in New York City in 1929 featuring Rex Stewart cornet, Leonard Davis trumpet, J C Higginbotham trombone, Don Redman and Benny Carter clarinet, alto sax, & vocals, Fats Waller piano, celeste, & vocals, Bobby Johnson banjo, Cyrus St. Clair, and George Stafford drums.

*"Six Or Seven Times" was written by Thomas "Fats" Waller and Irving Mills.

This group's name was derived from the successful "Chocolate Dandies" musical by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake.

The original "Chocolate Dandies" date, in 1928, was indeed a Redman production, featuring "McKinney's Cotton Pickers" and guest Lonnie Johnson under his other name. "Four Or Five Times" was one of the four titles recorded, and a hit, as were several other versions of this slightly risque song. This 1929 date is more of a hybrid New York all-star session, with Stewart and Hawkins out of "Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra", Davis, St. Clair and Stafford from Charlie Johnson's band, Higginbotham out of Luis Russell's burning group, and the rest either leading their own groups or free'lancing around town. Starting in December 1930, it was Carter who utilized this band name for various combo sessions he produced in 1933, 1940 and 1946. Redman was no longer involved in any of these subsequent dates. The opening strain of "Six or Seven Times" became the theme melody of "One O'Clock Jump" by Count Basie several years later. The feature of Carter on alto sax and Redman humorously echoing him on scat vocal undoubtedly added to the popularity of this record. -Dan Weinstein