SOONY PAYNE is the epidemy of a "POCKET DRUMMER"!!!!! He is ALWAYS leading the groove as a drummer should. And, without a doubt, he is the MOST ANIMATED drummer EVER. He exudes his enjoyment of what he does------LAYING IT DOWN !!!! LOVE THE BROTHER !!! Just love listening and watching the man do what he does---FLAT GETS IT !!!!!!!
You should listen to the history of jazz drummers available here on RU-vid. Mel Lewis talks about Sonny being more of a show drummer not a cat who can swing a band
Dig Sonny's little double time ditty on the splash cymbal at the beginning of Thad's solo. What an all star ensemble. All three solos are fabulous. Al Aarons and Frank Wess ... totally underrated talents!
Love it! You must be a drummer. Most people wouldn't know what a "splash cymbal" was. There are ride cymbals, hi-hats, crash cymbals, China cymbals, and (have I forgotten anything?) splash cymbals.
I was fortunate enough to see Basie and his band live around 1980 not long before he passed away. He had to enter the stage on an electric scooter but once he was seated at his piano all was right with the world again. I also got to see Duke Ellington and his band live around 1970. Both were once in a lifetime experiences for me. I saw Ellington in Pensacola and Basie in Tallahassee, Florida.
1 9 6 2. Can you imagine ? I just heard this tune on my local radio station in Worcester, Mass yesterday and I'm seeing this video for the first time and it gave me CHILLS !! Sonny Payne, what a GREAT DRUMMER !! 10.27.21
If I'm in the saddest, ugly, meanest mood all I have to do is turn on the Count and listen to Corner Pocket not once but it takes about 3 or 4 times to actually hear the richness of the horns, bass, drums separately and then one more time as they all come together. This song takes me to .....out of the world without any cares. If only I could have sat in the audience and surround myself with it all. Maybe in my next life!
I saw Thad Jones in 1974 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was a guest with the Youngstown Univ. lab band. Unbelievable concert and what a great honor for those young students! This is America’s classical music! Something to be proud of. I wonder if any future generations will ever come up with anything as real and genuine as this?
We overlook the highly compressed skill, artistry, virtuoso performances of these great jazz artists, because it is such fascinating fun and bumgluedtotheseat quality of entertainment, that, we forget how GREAT it was. Superduperistic.
Grew up listening to dad's Basie albums. The thing that set Basie bands apart was their amazing section work. 4 instruments in each of the three sections playing as one.
Has there ever been a tighter drummer than Sonny Payne? This version of Corner Pocket has been viewed over 54,000 times. 500 of them have probably been mine. Thad Jones and Al Aarons, --WOW what range and intonation. I saw a couple of BACH Mt Vervon Strads in the top row, just like mine, now belongs to my grandson Riley McManus in Seattle. He'll be in a similar back row some day. PP
As to Bach Model 6 Mt. Vernon Strad trombones, I've got two, one totally restored built in 1935, the other built in 36' & looks it's age but plays better than anything coming down the pike. These horns are my pride and joy & no family member who wants them except to sell.
In the 2007 performance of this tune with Bill Hughes conducting, did you catch the Monette that Scotty Barnhardt was using? His tone is absolutely incredible.
We may not ever make music like this again. But rest assured, the tradition of jazz is alive and well, both here in the US as well as many places around the world: San Juan, La Habana, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Johannesburg and more. The music may not be quite the same as it was in decades past, but it is as vibrant and powerful as ever. Jazz is an ever evolving tradition. Don't rush to judge its most recent evolutions -- leave that to future generations. Let us continue to venerate these elder masters, while at the same time let us open our ears and our hearts to what the new generations of masters are saying.
Brilliant. Beat that. Basie late 50's/ early 60's never better. Greatest big band ever, I saw this band in London 1960. Magic evening. I have been in a dream ever since. Superb trumpet solos from Thad Jones and Al Aarons, and also tenor sax solo.. Not sure who. Sonny Payne on drums and Freddy Green on guitar. Formidable rhythm section with the bass.. Even better live. Thanks for posting. Should be 232 million views.
Hello Mr. Partridge. You comment precisely captured the essence of this video post. As a drummer myself on YT, I couldn't have described this tune any clearer than you sir. It was absolutely breathtaking! As I watched the video through, everything you mentioned came into mind! As it's said, "You took the words right out of my mouth" ! :)
This brings back great memories...I used to see them live all the time in the 50's..+ I made out with the bassist Eddie Jones 1 evening..totally innocent.& my girlfriend was with Joe Williams..They were perfect gentlemen..we were only teenagers then..
I only got to see him twice. Once in San Francisco, and once in Santa Cruz. By the way, the album "Chairman of the Board" is the best miked vinyl album ever made.
You will never see or hear a better drummer in that band then Sonny Payne.. and there had been some really good ones.. you will never hear a better tenor solo then Frank Wess.. and even today 2020 .YOU WILL NEVER NEVER HEAR A MORE SWINGING BAND THEN BASIES..AND THAT'S THAT..
You can have L'il Darlin, Shiny Stockings and April in Paris, I'll take CORNER POCKET every time...and Sonny flippin' the stick, man...and Joe Williams.
Listening to jazz was still more fun than listening to rock/pop music at least until 1965/66. Then ten years of both, until jazz started vanishing up its own posterior, and has stayed there ever since.
In the 1970-80s, my father directed a big band orchestra and as a child he trailed me along - this is one of my favorites. Right on! Thank you for uploading. Be well within.
That's the one the baddest song big band songs it's ever been recorded my man count Basie in his band they really kicked it in on that one they shot it in the corner pocket thank you count you and your family God bless you and members of big band count back his band and orchestra
I first played this tune over 40 years ago and have always wondered if it really WAS supposed to be the same as Until I Met You. Today I was actually in a position to ask Google the question and - sure enough! - same song. I can die now.
I first saw Sonney Payne in '71 at Disneyland with the great Harry James band (I was just 17). Sonny, during a 5 minute solo, stood up and began walking completely around his set and sat down, and NEVER MISSED A BEAT NOR DROPPED A STICK. The guy was incredible.
