The great thing about SP was not only his virtuoso drumming but also his -- for want of a better word -- body English when he played. You could see, as well as hear and feel, every beat.
Wow.....he lives on my heart...I have been playing for so long and I checked the Rich, Krupas...etc.
Sonny and Papa Jo are my favorites at this phase of life....certain joy in their faces...vibe....can't just hear, you see it in there face....so wonderful to see this....it's not cocky either...like babies!
i,m getting tired and to the point insulted of this word OLD SCHOOL this the class and art of drumming "period" and being teaching and still teaching all over the world in any music school
@rrdrums110 so true, me being a metal drummer got bored of match grip and decided to practice traditional grip and transition into jazz, and swing style of drumming never looked back since. thanks to players like these we have groove and soul to music.
sid catlett was one of the greatest swing, small group, big band and show drummers of all time and no one even talks about him to-day, he would put most other so called drummers to shame
it's pretty amazing how high Sonny's ride cymbal is set. Seems kind of awkward and uncomfortable to play at that height. Buddy in my opinion had the better height and angle where the arm was lower and playing straight ahead or slightly down. Of course every drummer had their preferences and Sonny was a great player but still seems more tiring than it needed to be.
Sonny once said Sinatra was the only vocalist who could make him swing, and I think Ole Blue felt the same about Sonny. He was the flashiest soloist I've ever seen, and he did swing.
I saw Sonny Payne driving the Basie in 1962 when the band was atomic, and he was not only pushing the band at breakneck speeds but throwing his sticks the air, and catching them (with a few misses that I shagged) without missing a single, solitary beat. It was awe-inspiring. For big bands, he's right up there with Buddy Rich and Ed Shaughnessy.
If you think Sonny was BAAAAAAAAD, you should have heard his Dad Chris Columbo... I wish more footage of him were out there... Sonny was one of the greats, and like his father he was a master rhythm/time keeper and showman, but both could tear the life out of a drum kit if they HAD to show off... ! ! !
There really is no best. I mean, Buddy was a lot faster than Mel Lewis but it doesn't make him necessarily a better big band drummer. Enjoy the art of drumming by watching the greats. They all have different ways to express their art. Dave Tough was said to have very limited technique but he could swing a band to bad health as they say. Also, I'm sure there are so many drummers in New Orleans in the WWI era who never got recognized who were also phenoms.
Drumming is about self expresion and most importantly the music. It's not about who's the best or second best. You say you are a drum expert with 35 years experience. What bands have you played with? What drum companies are you sponsered by? Ever had any articles written about you? Won any awards, been on big tours? I assume you play with the same attitude you speak with, so my guess is you spend a lot of time playing with yourself, or along with recordings in your drum room.
to drums127: it's good that you admit that. Nowadays, everybody talks about Mr. Rich as if he were a god - while putting down all the drummers who came before him or other drummers who were just as good. Mr. Rich is good - even great, but there are others just as good, such as: Papa Jo Jones, Sonny Payne and even his father Christopher "Chris" Columbus (another big band drummer). I heard Mr. Rich say "I learned to do my press roll from the Black New Orleans big band drummers."
True enough, Butch. Sonny drove the Basie band in a way no one else did. LP's like Basie At Birdland are a good example of how dynamic he was. One can't help but feel the power of the band in those days. While I never had the ooportunity to see Sonny with Basie, I'm greatful to have seen you with Basie on multiple occasions. It must have a been a blast compared to your earlier gigs. Your solo LP's are terrific, too!
Sonny was one of a kind although the juggling bit was very old and straight out of vaudeville. Lionel Hampton was also a master with the sticks flying everywhere. Payne just happened to be a great drummer on top of everything else.
To acedrumminman: Who cares if buddy like a person (meaning Sonny Payne) or not. Sonny Payne was a great drummer and he didn't need Buddy's approval to be great. Why not just focus on his greatness and not try to down play his ability.
What you guys don't know is buddy rich actually has announced sonny as the best big band drummer around...buddy was the best soloist , sonny was the best big band drummer
LOL! Going like a freight train but easily tossing the stick over his neck, under his legs...where can I learn some of that crazy stuff?? Crazy s**t! It's too bad Mr Payne had some bad personal habits, I think he liked a drink or two, we'd probably still have his wonderful presence today if it weren't for that...
Sonny was a great drummer but if anyone knows jazz he should know that all the greatest drummers considered "Papa" Jo Jones as the best ever :Max Roach said about JO JONES :"out of every three beats a drummer plays, two of them are Jo's.He's the greatest drummer who ever lived."
Sonny Payne is one of the greats!!!! A true unsung hero. Also, his father supposedly was a great jazz drummer too. His father was Chris Columbus. I heard a lot of older Jazz drummers speak good things of Sonny Payne and his father.
He had his own trio for a while and also played in Harry James's band, ultimately passing away much too young in 1979. Maybe this is just a Basie fan talking, but I wouldn't really place Sonny Payne even a single notch below Krupa, Rich, or Roach--the guy was simply a giant of 20th-century music.
@DrNo2A41 definately one of the top 50 drummers of jazz especially in the showmanship department but as good as Krupa or Rich?; C'mon now. In terms of musicality, technique and all that there was also Louis Bellson, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and a few more like Philly Joe etc...before we get to Sonny Payne but I will say that he is often times over-looked but shouldn't be. In fact I'm sending this clip to some of my drum students and fellow musicians. Amazing!
amaazing artist was "SONNY" - SO , WHERE DO YOU THINK ALL THE GREAT ROCK DRUMMERS ETC, got the ideas from & styling :ITS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE,W/ ALL the videos today and stuff at their hands . most still cant play a lick...
One time I caught the Basie Band with Sonny on drums in Carnegie Hall and Buddy was in the wings digging it. Sonny was throwing his sticks up 20 feet in the air and catching them not missing a beat.
So often he was the engine of that band, propelling the orchestra yet staying in the perfect rhythm. Grab "Chairman Of the Board" by Basie or "Sinatra At the Sands". Payne's drummming is pure power - authoritative, not smothering - right "in the pocket," as his former boss would say. Amazing.
The great thing about SP was not only his virtuoso drumming but also his -- for want of a better word -- body English when he played. You could see, as well as hear and feel, every beat.
naizret 1 week ago
Look at him go to work on that set!
eatpanda118 2 weeks ago
Wow.....he lives on my heart...I have been playing for so long and I checked the Rich, Krupas...etc.
Sonny and Papa Jo are my favorites at this phase of life....certain joy in their faces...vibe....can't just hear, you see it in there face....so wonderful to see this....it's not cocky either...like babies!
God bless em both!
yougotgroove 2 months ago
One of the best big band drummers of all time. His dad was great too.
rexydad 2 months ago
@zerekx
Rich "overrated"? Sorry, not by a long shot.
(We haven't yet been given enough adjectives in our language to do that.)
ikshields 2 months ago
i,m getting tired and to the point insulted of this word OLD SCHOOL this the class and art of drumming "period" and being teaching and still teaching all over the world in any music school
darzil007 2 months ago
that man is so cool! i want to play drums like him!
klamydialover 3 months ago
@rrdrums110 AMEN thats the point !
pegrueneis 3 months ago
@rrdrums110
i agree with you, except that that air has nothing to do with grip.
eldudrino 3 months ago
That bass drum is the tits.
The4thGuy 4 months ago
0:44 - 0:46 Holding a baby in his arms
EKflylo 4 months ago
This guy was way ahead of his time...check him out with the Basie band....speechless
nachonal1 5 months ago
you always hear how bonham was influenced by Rich and Krupa, but this is a 1950s jazz bonham.
Bonzotriplets1 8 months ago
@Bonzotriplets1 Bonzo wasn't even in the same league as this cat. Sonny was the MAN
lordritchie 4 months ago
@lordritchie haha i hope you are kidding
Bonzotriplets1 4 months ago
Dynamic, inspired player.
Swung with taste and fury.
Easleytee 8 months ago
Major skills, rivaling Rich for sure of not better really, Rich was a bit over rated...
zerekx 8 months ago
@rrdrums110 so true, me being a metal drummer got bored of match grip and decided to practice traditional grip and transition into jazz, and swing style of drumming never looked back since. thanks to players like these we have groove and soul to music.
juvedoo99 9 months ago
The whole debate on grip match vs traditional is really fucking stupid...it's preference not a rule..get over it.
ultimatefighter187 11 months ago
How is there even 1 dislike on this video? Seriously!!!
Danzigrules1 11 months ago
@Danzigrules1 justin bieber?
MrRichard911 11 months ago
around the 32 second mark its sounds like he's playing a reggeaton beat
mik8903 1 year ago
brilliant!!!
34jazzman 1 year ago
Congratulations Sonny. You are the Best
pablopnl 1 year ago
Like so many drummers of his day....Sonny was pure skill, talent and class!!!
firstmusic00 1 year ago
And with a jacket and tie on too!
sussexcounty 1 year ago
Don't forget Barrett Deems.. =)
watch?v=m3EdQpJnlhU
electrostatic1 1 year ago
the first paradiddles ?¿
amafunko 1 year ago
sid catlett was one of the greatest swing, small group, big band and show drummers of all time and no one even talks about him to-day, he would put most other so called drummers to shame
sailin1934 1 year ago
@sailin1934 Big Sid would definitely make it into the top 5 of all time.
tadd1 1 year ago
it's pretty amazing how high Sonny's ride cymbal is set. Seems kind of awkward and uncomfortable to play at that height. Buddy in my opinion had the better height and angle where the arm was lower and playing straight ahead or slightly down. Of course every drummer had their preferences and Sonny was a great player but still seems more tiring than it needed to be.
stevebul 1 year ago
Sonny once said Sinatra was the only vocalist who could make him swing, and I think Ole Blue felt the same about Sonny. He was the flashiest soloist I've ever seen, and he did swing.
caponsacchi 1 year ago
Baaad to the bone!
Slammintone 1 year ago
Peter this is for you!
BebopAuthor 1 year ago
I saw Sonny Payne driving the Basie in 1962 when the band was atomic, and he was not only pushing the band at breakneck speeds but throwing his sticks the air, and catching them (with a few misses that I shagged) without missing a single, solitary beat. It was awe-inspiring. For big bands, he's right up there with Buddy Rich and Ed Shaughnessy.
connollysk 1 year ago
lol rr im only 15 and i play traditonal grip(:
Soca2Lakai 1 year ago
AWESOMEEEEE!!!))))
korneylaugh 1 year ago
Caught him with Basie a number of times in the early '60's. Awesome. And that goes for the whole band.
warrenclarkable 1 year ago
Wooow!! Burning!!!!!
602guy 2 years ago
Any Artist that came out of the WW2 and early 40's was great. they had to be , in order to be in these great Bands.
swinginkatz 2 years ago
If you think Sonny was BAAAAAAAAD, you should have heard his Dad Chris Columbo... I wish more footage of him were out there... Sonny was one of the greats, and like his father he was a master rhythm/time keeper and showman, but both could tear the life out of a drum kit if they HAD to show off... ! ! !
EddieLandsberg 2 years ago
SICK!!!
cdober 2 years ago
this is amazing never seen this before
drumatomic 2 years ago
There really is no best. I mean, Buddy was a lot faster than Mel Lewis but it doesn't make him necessarily a better big band drummer. Enjoy the art of drumming by watching the greats. They all have different ways to express their art. Dave Tough was said to have very limited technique but he could swing a band to bad health as they say. Also, I'm sure there are so many drummers in New Orleans in the WWI era who never got recognized who were also phenoms.
drummer78 2 years ago
That's one hell of a bass drum! Gotta' get me one of those...
lordieuan777 2 years ago 3
One of the BEST drummers of ALL TIME! I think drummers everywhere need to see and hear more from this era. Love it!
55WFL 2 years ago 2
thank u really much for sharing this material.
guidonietmann 2 years ago
It's funny how all clips on YouTube tends to make people end up in arguments on who is the best this and that...
They were all great! Sonny, Buddy, Speedy Jones... All of them.
They all had a great sense of musical humor. Great players and gave their best!
Love this vid! Thanx!
SwedeFlyer 2 years ago
Well said, I agree
JIMFISHES1 2 years ago
Comment removed
francodrummer1 2 years ago
Drumming is about self expresion and most importantly the music. It's not about who's the best or second best. You say you are a drum expert with 35 years experience. What bands have you played with? What drum companies are you sponsered by? Ever had any articles written about you? Won any awards, been on big tours? I assume you play with the same attitude you speak with, so my guess is you spend a lot of time playing with yourself, or along with recordings in your drum room.
KCJones1981 2 years ago
to drums127: it's good that you admit that. Nowadays, everybody talks about Mr. Rich as if he were a god - while putting down all the drummers who came before him or other drummers who were just as good. Mr. Rich is good - even great, but there are others just as good, such as: Papa Jo Jones, Sonny Payne and even his father Christopher "Chris" Columbus (another big band drummer). I heard Mr. Rich say "I learned to do my press roll from the Black New Orleans big band drummers."
fnkdrmmr 2 years ago
Sonny swung the Basie band in a unique way. I caught him in the late 50's with Basie at the old Birdland. Just great.
mrsticks28 2 years ago
creativity is not in the grip you use
lukeanson 2 years ago
True enough, Butch. Sonny drove the Basie band in a way no one else did. LP's like Basie At Birdland are a good example of how dynamic he was. One can't help but feel the power of the band in those days. While I never had the ooportunity to see Sonny with Basie, I'm greatful to have seen you with Basie on multiple occasions. It must have a been a blast compared to your earlier gigs. Your solo LP's are terrific, too!
MOCRMAN 2 years ago
Sonny was one of a kind although the juggling bit was very old and straight out of vaudeville. Lionel Hampton was also a master with the sticks flying everywhere. Payne just happened to be a great drummer on top of everything else.
BUTCH MILES
440864 2 years ago
1st time I've seen this & he's pretty amazing!
To JazzSage23 - He was purposely flipping the sticks outta his hands as part of his routine. I don't see where he "dropped" them. Sheesh!
MechaBlazeEagle 2 years ago 2
lol pas si mal
shindenfudoryu 2 years ago
I have seen this band, with Sonny Payne in 1956, I was only 20 at that time, what a night in Sweden with Basie Band Live!
Never forget it!
Thank´s for sharing my memories!
JDB
trumpetharmonica 2 years ago 6
This guy is amazing!!!
It's the first time i see him but : WOW!
Old school is always the best...
PantaZampa 2 years ago 3
well....this is a very sick,you know..
delijica 3 years ago
Man that brings back so many childhood memories. I remember being mesmerized by Sonny...and still to this day I stop everything to watch his solos...
a57moon 3 years ago 2
To acedrumminman: Who cares if buddy like a person (meaning Sonny Payne) or not. Sonny Payne was a great drummer and he didn't need Buddy's approval to be great. Why not just focus on his greatness and not try to down play his ability.
fnkdrmmr 3 years ago 4
What you guys don't know is buddy rich actually has announced sonny as the best big band drummer around...buddy was the best soloist , sonny was the best big band drummer
drums127 2 years ago
Buddy did not like Sonny...thought he was bullshit...
acedrumminman 3 years ago
That's Buddy's problem, not yours
lukeanson 3 years ago 4
Count Basie wouldnt hire a bulls&^%t drummer, maybe Buddy and Sonny just got off on the wrong foot, they were both legendary.
JIMFISHES1 2 years ago 2
LOL! Going like a freight train but easily tossing the stick over his neck, under his legs...where can I learn some of that crazy stuff?? Crazy s**t! It's too bad Mr Payne had some bad personal habits, I think he liked a drink or two, we'd probably still have his wonderful presence today if it weren't for that...
gregoryburrows 3 years ago
Bar none...the two GREATEST drummers of all time.....Sonny Payne and Buddy Rich!!!!!
Tony7840 3 years ago
After Sonny left Basie's band, he went with Harry James. Very warm and personable gentleman........
Tony7840 3 years ago
Sonny was a great drummer but if anyone knows jazz he should know that all the greatest drummers considered "Papa" Jo Jones as the best ever :Max Roach said about JO JONES :"out of every three beats a drummer plays, two of them are Jo's.He's the greatest drummer who ever lived."
incubae 3 years ago
Sure would like to know the names of ALL of the drummers that considered Jo Jones...the greatest!~!!!
Tony7840 3 years ago
One of my all time favorite clips, the whole video is great as well.
JIMFISHES1 3 years ago
Buddy Rich's Hero :)
soduno 3 years ago
O_o' 'o_O
kknuckkles 3 years ago
My hero
bcat44 3 years ago
Sonny Payne is one of the greats!!!! A true unsung hero. Also, his father supposedly was a great jazz drummer too. His father was Chris Columbus. I heard a lot of older Jazz drummers speak good things of Sonny Payne and his father.
fnkdrmmr 3 years ago
What happened to Sonny Payne after he left Basie? He seemed to disappear from the jazz world. Did he become a session musician in LA or Las Vegas?
usefulmusic 3 years ago
He had his own trio for a while and also played in Harry James's band, ultimately passing away much too young in 1979. Maybe this is just a Basie fan talking, but I wouldn't really place Sonny Payne even a single notch below Krupa, Rich, or Roach--the guy was simply a giant of 20th-century music.
DrNo2A41 3 years ago 19
@DrNo2A41 Agreed!
tadd1 1 year ago
@DrNo2A41 Amen to that!
sussexcounty 1 year ago
@DrNo2A41 I agree. Nobody could swing a big band like Sonny Payne!
ChiTown7721 1 year ago
@DrNo2A41 definately one of the top 50 drummers of jazz especially in the showmanship department but as good as Krupa or Rich?; C'mon now. In terms of musicality, technique and all that there was also Louis Bellson, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and a few more like Philly Joe etc...before we get to Sonny Payne but I will say that he is often times over-looked but shouldn't be. In fact I'm sending this clip to some of my drum students and fellow musicians. Amazing!
spercoco 1 year ago
that amazing for a little drum set like that
patriotsballboy79 3 years ago
very large bass drum though, maybe 28"? Sounded almost totally unmuffled. BTW Sonny had the BADDEST right foot of them all.
gregoryburrows 3 years ago
Amazing Sonny!
sussexcounty 3 years ago 3
Sonny was amazing, a brilliant drummer. I love the showman ship. I know many scoff at it, but Sonny, And Gene legtimized it.
danlc95 3 years ago 2
amaazing artist was "SONNY" - SO , WHERE DO YOU THINK ALL THE GREAT ROCK DRUMMERS ETC, got the ideas from & styling :ITS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE,W/ ALL the videos today and stuff at their hands . most still cant play a lick...
DYNODRUM 3 years ago
Define perfect Big band drummer? Answer Sonny Payne.Buddy you come a close second.
jazzbo123 3 years ago
He was a great friend too.
drummist69 4 years ago
the cat is too cool for words. Total Control. Go Sonny Go
lordritchie 4 years ago
mr payne....
bigbreadeaterellis 4 years ago
One time I caught the Basie Band with Sonny on drums in Carnegie Hall and Buddy was in the wings digging it. Sonny was throwing his sticks up 20 feet in the air and catching them not missing a beat.
Wavingclouds 4 years ago 4
That's one of the things Buddy Rich was known for was appreciating drummers.
BassmanII 3 years ago 2
cool
knatedogg07 4 years ago
So often he was the engine of that band, propelling the orchestra yet staying in the perfect rhythm. Grab "Chairman Of the Board" by Basie or "Sinatra At the Sands". Payne's drummming is pure power - authoritative, not smothering - right "in the pocket," as his former boss would say. Amazing.
davemock 4 years ago 2
Sonny Payne is one of the great jazz drummers. He's amazing. He's second only to Buddy Rich in my book.
xMatressKingx 4 years ago 2