Some of the bureaucratic social groups he was with included Chiang Kai-shek's wife Soong Mei-ling and her sister Ai-ling, who were regulars at the Canidrome in Shanghai.

Later that year, Clayton accepted an offer from bandleader Willie Bryant in New York, but while moving east he stopped in Kansas City, Missouri and was persuaded to stay by Count Basie,[6] whose orchestra had a residency at the Reno Club.

Beginning in 1937, the Count Basie orchestra was based in New York City, giving Clayton the opportunity to work as a freelance musician in studio sessions with Billie Holiday and Lester Young.

[1] After his honorable discharge in 1946, Clayton prepared arrangements for Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Harry James and became a member of Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) package,[1] appearing in April in a concert with Young, Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker, and in October participated in JATPs first national tour of the United States.

In 1947, he was back in New York, and had a residency at the Café Society, and the following year had a reunion with Jimmy Rushing, his fellow Basie alumnus, at the Savoy Ballroom.

He recorded intermittently over the next few years for the French Vogue label, under his own name, that of clarinetist Mezz Mezzrow[1] and for one session, with pianist Earl Hines.

The English critic Stanley Dance coined the term "mainstream" in the 1950s, to describe the style of those swing era players who fell between the revivalist and modernist camps.

In December 1953, he embarked on a series of jam session albums for Columbia,[1] which had been the idea of John Hammond, though George Avakian was the principal producer.

Clayton also recorded for Vanguard, with Hammond producing, under his own name and on dates led by Ruby Braff, Mel Powell and Sir Charles Thompson.

In 1965, he toured the UK with trombonist Vic Dickenson, and blues singer Big Joe Turner, accompanied by British trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band.

[8] With Count Basie With Coleman Hawkins With Frankie Laine With Mel Powell With Paul Quinichette With Red Richards With Buddy Tate With Dicky Wells