On Saturday night, July 16, 1955, a Dixieland contingent assembled and led by impresario George Wein, excited the Newport crowd with some exhilarating, toe-tapping fare. Only two tunes from their lively set was found in the archives — a rousing rendition of “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In” followed by “Royal Garden Blues.” The energetic drummer Buzzy Drootin fuels this spirited set-closer while potent solos were turned in my clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, trombonist Vic Dickenson and tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman. Baritone sax ace Gerry Mulligan, a ubiquitous presence at this year’s Newport Festival, made an unannounced appearance with the aggregation, sitting in on this exuberantly swinging finale.

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Wild Bill Davisson – trumpet; Pee Wee Russell – clarinet; Vic Dickenson – trombone; Bud Freeman – tenor sax; Gerry Mulligan – baritone sax; George Wein – piano; Milt Hinton – bass; Buzzy Drootin – drums