Sometimes called a “carving contest,” or “head cutting”, a cutting contest is a jam session during which players compete for gigs, respect, and acclaim by trying to blow each other off the stage. The applause from the audience is the barometer used to grade the players and choose the winner.
“Back then, if a guy wasn’t sharp on his axe every night, somebody was goin’ come and steal his gig on a cutting contest or on a jam session,” Dr. John explained. “See, in the 1940s through the 1950s, 1960s, and into the early 1970s there were these jam sessions and cutting contests. The place in New York of course was Nicky Ungano’s, and everybody used to jam there every night.”
Pianist Dr. John came of age in New Orleans in the 1950s, when musicians engaged in fierce jam sessions called Cutting Contests. “That’s what made a higher level of musicianship,” Dr. John said. “It’s just a sad thing that we don’t have that kind of outlet today. Where are there cutting contests anymore? Where are there all-night jam sessions anymore?”
