Born in Kansas City, Buck Clayton was probably the first important Jazz artist to gain renown in China, where he fronted a band along with Teddy Weatherford. Clayton returned to America before the second Sino-Japanese War and replaced Hot Lips Page as the principal trumpeter of the Count Basie orchestra. He would stay with Basie for many years, while also playing and recording with small groups under his own name.

This outstanding DVD contains two performances filmed in Europe during the early '60s. The first concert took place in Brussels and features Clayton conducting a small group including many well-known figures from the swing era, many of whom had also been part of the Basie band. Singer Jimmy Witherspoon is added on some numbers. The second show was taped in London and presents Clayton with trombonist Vic Dickenson and a big band conducted by English trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton. Big Joe Williams sings the Kansas City blues on some of the tracks.