http://youtu.be/Uha-M8B1ox0
This is a recording of Doc jamming with a rhythm section in 1966 at the National Championship stage band contest in Pampa, TX. Doc had not yet taken over the conducting job at NBC in the Tonight Show band, which didn’t occur until late 1967.
Doc never did much small group playing like this, so it’s great to find an old recording from the 60’s where he was jamming. I edited out the sax and trombone solos in this piece because the tune would have gone for almost nine minutes. Doc was actually the third solo in the piece, which is why you hear an edit after the head of the piece is played. Doc was 38 years old at the time of this recording.