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!
He died much too young after giving so much of himself to music and the Basie band. What a great big band drummer, one of the best. I cherish my Basie recordings with Sonny on drums. He knew how to drive that band.
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.
@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
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.
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...
I wish this sound was better.... but back then, you were lucky to have a camera with a mic that worked at all in loud environments so for that I'm grateful.
Those Cat's were Master's. They used Dynamics brilliantly. Thats extremely important especially when you have fewer drums. Doing more with less than a lot of ewr Generational guys do with 4x as many. Brilliance.
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
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."
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.
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...
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!
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.
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
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
It was Basie that said Sonny could do no bad lick EVER! The man had turned his hands into sticks virtually he could make music with anything even a carton of milk
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.
@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!
o my god. I can only imagine how difficult it is for god above.Buddy Rich , Sonny Payne we thank you.next in line Mr. Dwight McQueen Drummer. please visit me on RUclips under the name Black Buddy Rich.
![Kodak Black - Versatile 4 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VcP_1Ua__vY/mqdefault.jpg)
Phenomenal drummer Sonny Payne. He did stick throws that were influential to today's metal rock drummers.
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!
Like so many drummers of his day....Sonny was pure skill, talent and class!!!
He died much too young after giving so much of himself to music and the Basie band. What a great big band drummer, one of the best. I cherish my Basie recordings with Sonny on drums. He knew how to drive that band.
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...
best drum solo in history the harmony is easily spot on every tone! amazing
He definitely raised the bar on a lot of drummers. Please don't let the young drummers see this. We don't want to burst their bubble.
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.
Chris Columbus was born in 1902 and died in 2002. He literally lived for 100 years and outlived his son by 23 years.
This guy is amazing!!!
It's the first time i see him but : WOW!
Old school is always the best...
What an absolutely incredible musician.
Notice the left hand how the drum stick is held, (correctly) Beautiful solo!
+Gill Caballero Yes sir!
I'll look to see the others in action.
Caught him with Basie a number of times in the early '60's. Awesome. And that goes for the whole band.
Bar none...the two GREATEST drummers of all time.....Sonny Payne and Buddy Rich!!!!!
@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
One of the best big band drummers of all time. His dad was great too.
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.
the cat is too cool for words. Total Control. Go Sonny Go
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...
It is a rare gift for any band to be blessed to have a drummer that will go on a 35 minute solo so they can go for drinks
still love it!!
After Sonny left Basie's band, he went with Harry James. Very warm and personable gentleman........
1958....75th anniversary model.....gretsch anniversary sparkle....that great gretsch sound,and the dynamic sonny payne.
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.
Sonny is the man !
the king of drums
Wooow!! Burning!!!!!
What various brands did Sonny play over the years.
Great drummer.
This guy was way ahead of his time...check him out with the Basie band....speechless
this is amazing never seen this before
AWESOMEEEEE!!!))))
I wish this sound was better.... but back then, you were lucky to have a camera with a mic that worked at all in loud environments so for that I'm grateful.
Sonny was amazing, a brilliant drummer. I love the showman ship. I know many scoff at it, but Sonny, And Gene legtimized it.
The GOAT!
Right after 1:47 he quotes the melody from "Old Man River" - brilliant!
The golden days of Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Sonny Payne, Rufus Jones, Louie Bellson, Danny Barcelona ext.
Krupa prime was little before BR's time.
brilliant!!!
@Bonzotriplets1 Bonzo wasn't even in the same league as this cat. Sonny was the MAN
Saw him in person with the Count circa 1958 University of Michigan.
Those Cat's were Master's. They used Dynamics brilliantly. Thats extremely important especially when you have fewer drums. Doing more with less than a lot of ewr Generational guys do with 4x as many. Brilliance.
JESUS LOOK AT THAT KIT!!!!!!!
@sailin1934 Big Sid would definitely make it into the top 5 of all time.
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
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."
F^@%ing WOW!!! Hell yes!!!
Incredible drummer! Even when he looses his stick @ 1:19 it's amazing :)
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.
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...
Ok I normally hate stick tricks but 2:59 was just too cool for words.
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!
Much more imaginative than Buddy Rich.
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.
mr payne....
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
Billion dollar drum solo god skills.
very large bass drum though, maybe 28"? Sounded almost totally unmuffled. BTW Sonny had the BADDEST right foot of them all.
Sure would like to know the names of ALL of the drummers that considered Jo Jones...the greatest!~!!!
That's one of the things Buddy Rich was known for was appreciating drummers.
Peter this is for you!
They all start to sound similar after watching 30 drum solos xD
around the 32 second mark its sounds like he's playing a reggeaton beat
@rrdrums110
i agree with you, except that that air has nothing to do with grip.
@rrdrums110 AMEN thats the point !
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
Legend!
Look at him go to work on that set!
@DrNo2A41 Agreed!
🌾🌱💙🙄
haha, yes
It was Basie that said Sonny could do no bad lick EVER! The man had turned his hands into sticks virtually he could make music with anything even a carton of milk
KerielOtD - any idea when and where this was recorded? I'd like to try and find a higher quality copy. Thanks !
well....this is a very sick,you know..
Where is the rest of it???
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?
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.
@Danzigrules1 justin bieber?
@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!
hi go to utub and type in black Buddy Rich.i am Mr. Dwight McQueen Drummer. Sonny is gone I miss him and Buddy Rich. I must keep up the magic.
When you play this good, you only need a 4 piece kit...not a 14 piece kit.
Better without all the stick antics....leave that to the circus performers.
You only need to use 4 piece kits to sound great.
I rate Sonny third, behind Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa.
Don't forget Barrett Deems.. =)
watch?v=m3EdQpJnlhU
@zerekx
Rich "overrated"? Sorry, not by a long shot.
(We haven't yet been given enough adjectives in our language to do that.)
o my god. I can only imagine how difficult it is for god above.Buddy Rich , Sonny Payne we thank you.next in line Mr. Dwight McQueen Drummer. please visit me on RUclips under the name Black Buddy Rich.
The whole debate on grip match vs traditional is really fucking stupid...it's preference not a rule..get over it.
He is bad!
4 people cant understand drumming!
4 people broke light bulbs and mirrors while trying to attempt the stick twirls ;-)
It's called envy, what a shame for people !
Major skills, rivaling Rich for sure of not better really, Rich was a bit over rated...
Rich overrated????What as -an asshole?
Buddy did not like Sonny...thought he was bullshit...
👍❣️😎