This clip of Sonny Payne soloing is from 1962. I have never heard a drummer get so many different variations out of a simple buzz roll. (Some people call it a 'press roll') We talk about technique, dynamics and stick control from time to time. This performance is a masterful demonstration of all three. Amazing, creative drummer, what this guy does with a buzz roll is mind blowing. Unbelievable control! I had to share it.
Enjoy,
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izHspsSHXyg[/ame]
John
Absolutely agreed John... but wait, there's more! ..
This ENTIRE performance should be shared as it is one of the BEST filmed/recorded performances of Sonny Payne with Count Basie available! The solo shown here on "Old Man River" is quite a display for sure, as one can even HEAR "quotes" being played in that press/buzz roll! .. but .. Sonny's backing of the Basie band during this period.. ( 1962 ) .. was just stellar. I have owned a copy of this entire concert since it came out and watch it a LOT! As big a Buddy fan as I am, Sonny is right up there for me too, ESPECIALLY during this particular period with Basie. I have just about every recording of the Count Basie big band with Sonny Payne from the early to mid 60's, but THIS PERFORMANCE/CONCERT is THE ONE as it was filmed beautifully and in high quality for the day. The chart/arrangement of "Corner Pocket" and the way Sonny backs it, is yet another beauty. So!...
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62 (1962) is the exact title, and it's still available on DVD .. and .. you can find it for UNDER $10.00! During this period, Sonny Payne was pure showmanship and flair with chops to boot... not Buddy chops per se... but chops nonetheless!
Tommyp
Thanks Purdie. Watched the whole thing.
The roll that continues through the entire solo seems to me to be a double stroke roll with buzz articulations and accents added in between the continuous
very impressive and long Double stroke pattern.
Am I missing something here regarding buzz rolls?
I did not think a buzz roll (drop 1 stick and let it bounce till it's almost dead, then drop the other stick)
could be continuous unless it was Buddy/Gladstone or somebody that good.
What great control and stamina. Rolling for days.
sa
As big a Buddy fan as I am, Sonny is right up there for me too, ESPECIALLY during this particular period with Basie.
Tommyp, I wholeheartedly agree! I saw the Count with Sonny once in Las Vegas and he's been my favorite ever since. Buddy was the best, but Sonny was the most entertaining. I could watch him for hours.
Just ordered the DVD. Thanks Tommy.
Thanks Purdie. Watched the whole thing.The roll that continues through the entire solo seems to me to be a double stroke roll with buzz articulations and accents added in between the continuous very impressive and long Double stroke pattern.Am I missing something here regarding buzz rolls?I did not think a buzz roll (drop 1 stick and let it bounce till it's almost dead, then drop the other stick)could be continuous unless it was Buddy/Gladstone or somebody that good.What great control and stamina. Rolling for days.sa
It's an accented press roll for the most-part. When he raises the sticks higher above the head he transitions to dbl. strokes, (out of necessity, it's the only way to do it,) but the meat of the solo, the foundation he's playing off of, is a simple, continuous press roll. Try it! The only way to raise the sticks higher above the drum and maintain continuity of the buzz roll is to transition to a dbl. stroke roll.
TommyP - I'm ordering the Basie video today! It is a stellar performance from a terrific drummer at the height of his ability. Worth watching over and over. I love Basie, (Ellington more, but Basie is a big favorite,) so that'll be a bonus. But Sonny just outdid himself here. There is pure genius in taking something as simple as a press roll and turning it into the rhythmic symphony that Sonny creates with it. I'm also deeply impressed with his dynamic control of the sticks (WOW! he's good,) and technical ability. Stick-tricks not withstanding.
Those Silver Sparkle Slingy's don't sound half bad either!
John
Sounds like there was a second drummer playing the rolls.
Sonny Payne has always been my favorite drummer of all time (I'm 49 for the record). There are quite a few YouTube videos with Sonny playing with Count Basie 1955-1965 and Harry James from 1966-1979. I always thought Sonny felt every note the band played. I think Basie's band had the greatest brass section every assembled. Watch Sonny feeling the groove on The Basie videos "Corner Pocket", I believe there is one from 1962 and from 1964. Also, if you want the hair on your neck to stand up!, check out Sonny playing on the Harry James, "Blues For Sale" Youtube video, in color from the Ed Sullivan show in 1967. (I tried pasting that video on here, but it doesn't work) Harry James is also top of my list for trumpet players and his band is killer too. I copy all these videos from YouTube to my hard drive, then DVD so I don't lose them.
Jeff - The way you separate the men from the boys when it comes to a press roll is; done right, it's one continuous, clean buzz, no breaks. When guys who don't have 'good control' play a buzz roll, you can hear the alternation between the hands; Zzzzz,Zzzzz,Zzzzz,Zzzzz. With a drummer who knows how to work the sticks and use the rebound, all you hear is a clean; zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Adding clean accents while you're doing it is whole other thing. (Think, 5 and 9 stroke rolls!) What you're seeing and hearing Sonny play looks and sounds 'deceptively simple.' It soon becomes clear (when you try to execute it yourself,) that there's a lot more going on than meets the eye at first glance. When you listen to a player like Sonny, you're watching and listening to a Master of the Art of drumming. I feel like I'm in church when I listen to the greats. They get -all of my attention- and -deepest respect- for what they can do with the exact same tools that I have at my disposal.
John
John!
I'm gonna assume that you're jes funnin'.. 'cause Sonny is playing Gretsch drums here... not Slingerland! He was a BIG Gretsch endorser and stayed with them just about the whole way, but went over to Sonor in the 70's. He passed.. ( untimely ) .. in 1979 at a mere 54. Sonor had a signature model Sonny Payne drum stick that I absolutely loved, and that was my stick of choice from the late 70's into the early 80's. It was Sonny's own design/model, and I thought it was THE perfect stick! I should have kept at least one pair for posterity... but who knew back then?!
GLAD you guys have ordered the ENTIRE concert/DVD! There will be NO disappointments here! This particular version of Basie's band is killin' in it's own right... but Sonny alone is worth the price of admission. Note Snooky Young and Thad Jones in the brass section!
Tommyp
Tommy - You know, I kept looking at the lugs and saying to myself, wow, those look like Slingy lugs! And they do at the distance shown. That's why I called it a Slingy kit. My eyes were fooled by the distance to the drums. I did look close though, just made a bad call on the drums. Eye Ball
John
PS - I ordered the DVD! Can't wait. Got it at Amazon.com for $11. plus a few bucks shipping.
