Bobby Hackett and Jerry Borshard Jam Session 1940 Columbus, OH

Here are two informal performances by the prodigious Bobby Hackett at the time he was a member of the Horace Heidt Orchestra. In early April of 1940 the Heidt band was appearing in Columbus, OH. One of Bobby's bandmates was trombonist Jerry Borshard who arranged for a few afterhours jam sessions with some of his local musician friends. You'll hear a very relaxed group clearly having fun and adlibbing all the way. For these tunes Borshard switched to vibes and to my ear is very reminiscent of Adrian Rollini on that instrument. This is a period when Bobby still had a Bixian influenced tone that changed subtlety and gracefully over the ensuing years. We are very fortunate that these informal sessions were captured even if in lesser sound quality by today's standards. Note that "Someday Sweetheart" starts in progress. Enjoy these gems.