Count Basie Live from the Dorchester Hotel 1973 | Sonny Payne and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

Count Basie Live from the Dorchester Hotel , London 1973. Featuring Sonny Payne and Eddie Lockjaw Davis.
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[@jerryferko8309]

not enough words to describe how good these the guys were ........ THE COUNT AND HIS CREW ! ................ OUTSTANDING !!!

[@beeshor1]

I see a bunch of people critiquing Sonny for his drumstick pyrotechnics. Everyone is entitled to their opinion so I'll throw in my two cents. Jazz needs/needed all the showmen it could get. Bless Sonny for giving the folks a show along with his stellar play. Unfortunately, too many people don't appreciate jazz for the great playing alone. A lot of people want to be visually thrilled. And Sonny's stickwork was thrilling. You have to hand him that much at the very least.

[@gregorysullivan4554]

Amen to that!...besides,if someone has a problem w/Sonny's stagecraft,they are not listening to him..

[@johnfenner347]

Quite right. As George Carlin said, " There are a lot of stupid people out there" ! x x .

[@Justin-rv1rp]

I’m 7:34 into this video and I read a comment about pyrotechnic drum-sticking. I’m hooked.

[@bifflatourette8910]

I TOTALLY AGREE. Everybody in that ensemble had the chops to back up the most flamboyant showmanship they chose to display. Payne's kinetic enthusiasm was just as important as Basie's trademark restraint and understatement.

[@aureliobrighton1871]

This is beautiful magic. Such a privilege in fact, I feel like some Count listening and watching. Thankyou. 🌻♥️

[@blmcbits]

Sonny Payne, utterly captivating, enjoying his work, grooving mightily with the best band on the globe.

[@stevericci5320]

y7

[@rickviehdorfer4755]

Well… maybe a tie. 😏

[@dukeseidmann9624]

Personnel: Paul Cohen, Sonny Cohn, Pete Minger, Waymon Reed (tp); John Gordon, Frank Hooks, Bill Hughes, Mel Wanzo (tb); Bobby Plater, Curtis Peagler (as) Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Harold Ousley (ts); John Williams (bar) Count Basie (p) Freddie Green (g), Norman Keenan (b), Sonny Payne (dm)

[@CPadgitt]

Thank you very much for listing the musicians. I always find it frustrating to hear these wonderful people play and not know all of their names.

[@xyster01]

My absolute favorite drummer. Amazing hearing him play, but even more a treat to watch him doing his thing. This band though... Still gives me chills.

[@CampSwampy18]

Greatest big band of all time playing for people who look like they're at an IRS audit.

[@jerryferko8309]

totally agree ....wake them folks up ......

[@m.j.mcilroy5470]

The great Pauly Cohen on trumpet -"What's New". One of the best lead trumpeters of all time. Played with Dorsey and Goodman and just about every other big band of that era.

[@geezergonewile]

Paul Cohen's performance is the highlight of this show for me. Spotting these amazing musicians was Basie's greatest talent. Basie lives!!

[@TonyfromBham]

As usual, Freddie Green ties the whole thing together.

[@anthonydecruz178]

I was very fortunate in that a dear friend of my family, who loved artists like Crosby, Ella, Sinatra and bands like the Dorseys,Benny Goodman took me to see The Count. I was 16, the year 1963. I always loved the drums and was enthralled when seeing Gene Krupa on film, a flamboyant showman. Well Sonny Payne was with the orchestra and purists might disapprove, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. Later I saw Eddie Thigpen with Oscar Peterson,and Sam Woodyard with Duke Ellington and many other great artists, like Max Roach,but I always have fond memories of "The fabulous Sonny Payne ", as Basie used to call him.

[@AlexanderCorbett-gp4st]

I was 10 yrs old when my parents took me to see the Count... i'm 79 and I ain't over it yet!!

[@adrianlyord5300]

I'm amazed by Sonny Payne ! I watched this entire Video and his Drumming and showmanship are excellent ! The entire band was swinging too! RIP Count Basie and Sonny Payne and long live swing!

[@basiebasie-iw3qz]

Count Basie is one of the greatest artists God has given us

[@stalliec]

So amazing. Sonny Payne!! Hard to believe so few younger drummers today know about Sonny. This is a great post, thank you.

[@davidjackson7675]

No band can swing like Count Basie.

[@pipestud3corncobpuffer785]

If you happen to come across a vinyl copy of Basie in Sweden,,wear that sucker out. Great album and it shows The Count at his jazz best. He was more than just One O'Clock Jump, he could swing out of the park and right up in the stratosphere. And he had one thing most pop stars don't today: class. Long live Basie!

[@ChannelMaster720]

The trumpet solo on "What's New?" is out of this world. This musician puts his heart and soul into this piece. With Sonny Payne on drums just completes this song. Great music! SYLVIA! 6/29/21

[@thenel2162]

Payne swinging in a super funky way! That groove! Letting it hang loose!

[@jeremypreece870]

Basie at his best. Truly big band and truly jazz. Wasn't his big band just the greatest of them all?

[@Thouveninpascal]

Always great, for me the best Basie's period is the "Atomic" one, with the greatest arrangers , Quincy, Hefti, Thad Jones, Foster, young guys with great talent, Marshall Royal lead alto and musical director. Basie himself was not 60 yet. Many great record sessions and very few video live

[@geezergonewile]

And what a fabulous era it was.

[@jerryferko8309]

ed stalling ........so very true ...........sonny payne was outstanding ........the entire cast ............. outstanding ........ thanks for the video.......... may 4 2023

[@josephsudlersr.7854]

No band could lay down a grove like the Basie band trust me😎

[@carlos06291960]

That was a class act! No one today can touch em!

[@DrJonesJazzMore]

sonny payne is the man, wow

[@Dobie_Gillis]

The Count makes it all wonderful. Thank you for these old recordings.

[@geezergonewile]

Never say old to an old Basie lover! Better than most anything out there today. This sound required extreme talent ... and lots of practice. And life seemed so much better.

[@jimbaker6442]

I love Eddie Davis's playing. I saw an interview with him where he tells many interesting stories about when he was with Basie and Ellington. I agree with the other reviewer who said that it seems Basie and Sonny Payne we're almost made to be together. And yes it seems he's doing a few more stick tricks then he usually does but maybe that's because cameras are on him. He's playing his accents almost like he's got a brass chart in front of him. He never missed a one. Some have criticized him because they feel that he rushes but if you listen to his playing on past recordings he's playing on top of the beat even when he's using brushes. In my opinion the band never swings better then when he's playing with them.

[@arame29]

Mel Lewis was critical of Sonny for not sitting back in the pocket

[@s.pearson6887]

All Basie’s drummers were great. My favorite with the orchestra was Butch Miles.

[@Bob-nu3xe]

THAT performance is priceless, Sonny is in his delivery is staggering, Basie Mr cool the band outstanding, thank you very much for the post

[@karlhungus5554]

Thank you for this wonderful upload! What a magnificent show by some superb musicians!

[@jazzfan445]

This was during Sonny Payne's second stint as Basie's regular drummer. When Harold Jones left in 1972, Sonny returned to Basie and stayed until 1974. He was with Harry James prior to 1972 and also after 1974. About 3 months before the above clip, Sonny told me it was his wife who had urged him to "get back with Basie!"

[@HadEnough745]

Why wouldn't Sonny want to play with Basie? It seems like a great gig. Unless, he had personal issues or annoyed Basie with his antics.

[@jazzfan445]

I think Sonny was always happy with Basie and there weren't any "antics." When Sonny left the first time, I believe there was just a falling out, possibly personal.

[@user-yk2lp2cp2j]

Tony Ferrigno фф

[@jazzfan445]

Count Basie always liked Sonny Payne's showmanship on the drums. This crowd pleasing was one of the main reasons Basie asked Sonny to stay with the band permanently in late 1954.

[@adbarnes57]

ah...thanks Tony I had forgotten he came back after Harold left in 72. I just thought that London gig was a fill in thing.

[@erasmusomnius]

Fallbrook High School gym about 1971 or 1972 or 1973. what a thrilling treat. Memories.

[@beeshor1]

Sonny drops a stick, just grabs another and keeps going to work, My man!

[@okuhata48]

This is real “Basie in London”!

[@edwarddesenne6153]

I was a pupil in 1954 of a brilliant British drummer and expert percussionist John Milton Taylor who accompanied American artists at The Dorchester in London and played drums for Eric Delaney when he was not available and with the Eric Winston Ochestra. Also drum tutor at Charles Foote's shop in London for many years !

[@edwarddesenne6153]

See my comment about The Dorchester hotel in London venue before 1954 where my first drum teacher John Milton Taylor accompanied also the visiting

[@edwarddesenne6153]

American jazz stars and was the drum tutor for years at Charles Foote's shop in London but passed away at least 10 years ago and forgotten!

[@camilofonseca6981]

Track Listing: Gonna Get it All - 0:00 Pretty Girl - 4:02 April in Paris - 8:02 One O'Clock Jump (opening riff?) - 11:30 Corner Pocket - 12:17 What's New? - 18:20 Whirly Bird - 22:28 Big Stuff - 29:20 I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You - 36:38 Jumpin at the Woodside - 40:20 One O'Clock Jump - 43:40

[@Thouveninpascal]

Do you know the tenor on Jumpin's solo ? Never saw him.

[@richardpetrarca8266]

@@Thouveninpascal eddie 'lockjaw' davis

[@gerarddelgrande]

Sonny PAYNE : King of drums !!

[@nancyeckroad-haney7309]

Absolutely the BEST.

[@jeremypreece870]

This band is the equivalent of the King commanding an army of generals.

[@gerarddelgrande]

@@jeremypreece870 I totally agree with you Jeremy, these cats really sound great !! Cheers from France !

[@johnlong1538]

....stunning.....I heard The Count live the year before.....he had over 50 years of world-class experience AT THAT TIME....

[@nazarenalusana0691]

Tutti insuperabili ❤

[@beeshor1]

Here Bobby sounds a little like Johnny Hodges with that vibrato. He even looks a little like Jeep with those sad eyes. Great playing by everyone.

[@johnguilfoil7534]

i always love Basies ballads.....sonny plays like he spent alot of years in VEGAS BABY>(see april in paris) i tell all the drummers about sonny payne........the absolute best...wheres the dance floor??? cut loose...and oh yeah....jaws...nuff said

[@geezergonewile]

Best rendition of "What's New" I've ever heard. And this performance has to be one of the best Basie vids on KZbin. Love Sonny keeping his motor running between tunes @7:56. Grateful that The Basie Orchestra has been the background music to my life.

[@philippeplouchart8156]

The king of cool Jazz!

[@chris1961grams]

Proper big band swing!

[@RanBlakePiano]

What a pleasure !

[@ronhart8892]

terrific as always----i wish i was younger Ron uk

[@johnrapach9764]

❤Always my Fav Jazz Band

[@ronhart8892]

atremendous performance --i wish i was younger so pleased with your posting ron uk

[@drummerboy2521]

Give that Drummer some! SONNY PAYNE!

[@alfredoremus4409]

Para mi gusto esta fue la mejor agrupación que tuvo esta descomunal orquesta con los mas rutilantes nombres y uno de los mas memorables conciertos!!!

[@swingmn]

Thanks so much for posting. I have looked for a better copy of this concert for years. My copy was OK but had a few glitches so it is great to finally get very good copy. Keep swinging my friend and keep up the good work.

[@jackwhite6030]

the best lots of views....I believe Sonny Payne played with Harry James a year earlier at Willow Brook in Chicago suburbs our after prom dinner.....I was there....20 feet away he was IT....

[@DerekDtj]

Finally, a Basie solo by Bobby Placer, just great!

[@geezergonewile]

errr ... did you mean Plater?

[@trulsaslaksby]

@@geezergonewile

[@trulsaslaksby]

Plater's solo is fine, buthecould'nt match Marshall Royal in leading the section.

[@starling9172]

The Best

[@agnusize]

Que beleza!

[@Egbert1957]

... Schon beim ersten Titel fällt mir wieder auf, dass Basie vor 1976 mehr uncomerzielle Arrangements hatte, als weit danach die letzten 10 Jahre seines Wirkens. Fast alle Live-Aufnahmen die man so findet und wie ich auf LP hat, sind immer die selbigen aus der eingängigen Schublade ohne Experimente. Die Legende hat in den letzten Jahren nur dass gespielt, was das Seniorjazz-Puplikum auf den Festivals und ausverkauften Konzerten hören wollte. Hier ist eine Andere ganz andere Dynamik. Es gibt ein Konzert aus Norwegen, dass noch besser ist. War vermutlich auch seiner Gesundheit geschuldet. Sehr gut war er in allen Dekaden.

[@basie802]

The Great forever !!

[@jerryferko8309]

drummin man, your comment below , perfect , the audience .....WAKE UP !!!

[@dynasticlight1073]

Sonny, at His best here. Showcasing innate Talent .Time ,essence of a Drummer encompassing more than meets the ears or eye. The Count gave Him freedom to play ... Drummers today would not get or try it...

[@mezdrums]

Sonny Payne the absolute GOAT

[@SDFDAFCV]

fdc do nada uma banda braba pra alegrar minha madrugada. foda . clap a todos os defuntos desse video e um clap a todos os vivos que estao por ai

[@alanwitton5039]

Fantastic listening

[@sulaimanswaleh6003]

basie's expression at like 35.30 is like..yea my band's badasssss

[@alfonsedalessio8244]

One of the best band ever Sony on the drums is priceless

[@rogerhn7785]

Great Basie band. My favorite Basie band was the one with Illinois Jacquet. Eddie Davis was one of the greet tenor saxophonists of all times. Did some superb work with Oscar Peterson as well. Thanks for the video. Do you by any chance have that Buddy Rich concert from 1981 in Japan. Some great numbers in that I believe including Good News and West Side Story. Thanks again.

[@sbullar]

Yes i thought Sonny was with Harry around this time, Butch didn't come along until '75. Sonny was the master showman but a lot of leaders would't have put up with the antics. He always seemed to not get the memo about what the rest of the band was going to wear.

[@12warrenpark]

That is the funniest comment posted by anyone ever. I can not stop laughing. Thanks Steve.

[@werdsivad1]

I got to meet Sonny with Harry James in1972. My dad worked for Gretsch and had met him somewhere along the line. I said, “it is really nice to meet you Mr. Payne”. He shot back, “Hey, call me Sonny kid!” At 12 years old, I was awestruck. What a cool guy!!! And amazing player!!!!

[@TS-gn2wy]

I saw Sonny as a kid; '74 I believe. When the band came out, they were all in black evening attire except Sonny! He was wearing a pink jacket, maroon turtle neck, pink bell bottoms and pink boots! Quite a character and super nice to me. A power house player.

[@jazzfan445]

I was 18-years old when I went up to him at the beginning of a Basie band break during a dance gig. I was just some kid and he didn’t know me at all, and yet he was extremely friendly, talking with me for the entire 15-minute break. He told me some facts about himself that weren’t well known at that time. I’ve included them in his Wikipedia listing. Quite a memorable time for me!

[@mikejonahstonehandge9389]

NO DOUBT

[@michaelhorton1350]

Many comments, quite justified, for Sonny Payne as killer Basie timekeeper, but Harold Jones, who only went for the price in taking Sarah Vaughn chair, is great Basie drummer. And is the only such to rate mention in Basie biography.

[@jazzfan445]

Which Basie biography are you talking about? In Count Basie’s autobiography “Good Morning Blues” he writes about Sonny Payne, Butch Miles, and Jo Jones, each being mentioned when he’s talking about those years of the band’s history.

[@dynasticlight1073]

Yes, He sure was. Sonny and Him did it real..

[@arame29]

Sonny's drums and cymbals sound so much better here than they did on the Sinatra-Basie at the Sands LP

[@nicolasblondel5501]

Ooops... Got the answer at the end !

[@wiredjefflittle2801]

Check out Lockjaw rolling his eyes after Sonny's drum solo. Funny.

[@geezergonewile]

Where?

[@arame29]

People who think Buddy Rich was too flashy need to check this guy out at 28:00

[@user-kd3kr1vu9o]

Высшее мастерство высший стандарт оркестр приезжал несколько раз в сочи

[@harrybradstreet9394]

In later years Butch Miles even more showy and flamboyant. What the hell's wrong with that? As long as you're spot on, as they both were.

[@kimsherlock8969]

What an Orchestra no conducting Jazz sweetness

[@peterchoe]

seems like every alto player is in the shadow of Johnny Hodges

[@moreflowfalls2404]

COunt Basie's very own version of Johnny Hodges from the Duke Ellington Band......kkkk

[@nicolasblondel5501]

Fantastic !!! Does anyone know all musicians names at that time ? Thanks !

[@joecash4354]

All the musicians’ names scroll at the end.

[@unsungm]

Sonny was a character on stage and off. I was 13 yrs old on a band school field trip to see Count Basie and Sonny rounded up a bunch of us to stand in a line to get autographs from Count Basie. Mr Basie seemed tired and bemused by it all so when it was my turn to hand him my program I noticed he had a jar of cashews on the desk he sat at so I asked him if I could have one of his nuts as a souvenir from the show. Man, did his face just break into the biggest grin. Of course I had Sonny’s autograph too. I taped the cashew next to Count Basie’s autograph and pinned it on my bedroom wall over my desk. It stayed there for 4 years until I run away from home and my mom decided to redecorate my room throwing my autographs and cashew keepsake away. I never did get along with my mother.

[@adbarnes57]

Swinging awesome!!! thanks for posting. Hey what's the name of the chart playing around the 30 min. mark? It's the tune right after Sonny's big featured solo.

[@HelloooThere]

Trombones lagging behind in April in Paris….why?

[@arame29]

Di dnt Sonny leave for Harry James? And why was Mel Lewis so critical of his playing?

[@thecrippledrummer]

Andrew Chaplowitz Sonny played with Basie on certain occasions but I think this was one of the last times. He was tired of dealing with his drinking issues. I love Mel but he tended to be critical of anyone who didn’t play like he did. Lol. I don’t care what anyone says, pretty much nobody could swing Basie like Sonny Payne.

[@arame29]

Drumuitar I hheard Count had issues with Rufus Jones also?

[@rondrums51]

I agree that Sonny swung that band hard. Mel Lewis did not like all the showmanship. Jake Hanna criticized Sonny for the same reason. But Sonny was much more than just a showman. In this video, he catches all the hits and the subtleties in every tune. And if you listen to his work on the Basie records from the earlier days, lIke The Atomic Basie, his playing is perfect. Same thing on Sinatra at the Sands. Sonny was a fine musician. The showmanship came from his dad, Chris Columbo, who was Louis Jordan's drummer.

[@arame29]

rondrums51 i thought Atomic was Harold Jones?

[@arame29]

@@thecrippledrummer in an intervierl praised individuality and lambasted a caller who thought Max should play like Buddy His issue with Sonny was his rushing tempos.

[@Oldpigsass]

Frank Sinatra's favourite drummer.

[@nicmart]

Basie's favorite was Harold Jones.

[@arame29]

Lead tpt Paul_____?

[@starling9172]

OMG Daddy music

[@thenel2162]

dont the count seem peeved? Im not sure the backstory here! Sonny kicking the hell out of the band tho!

[@djthemoretaiwan]

Who is the bass player?

[@gerarddelgrande]

It's a bit dark but I recognize Norman Keenan !!

[@gerarddelgrande]

It's correct, it is written at the end of the show !

[@andrewcharley1893]

1:52 Amy winehouse in the house!!!!!!

[@mikeromano2219]

GREAT DRUMMER. CAN DO WITHOUT STICK FLIPS AND OTHER ANTICS. JUST PLAY GREAT AND DRIVE THE BAND. AS YOU KNOW HOW TO DO. IT TAKES AWAY FROM YOUR GREATNESS. PAST TENSE.

[@thecrippledrummer]

MIKE ROMANO for most drummers I’d say yes, but Sonny could do the stick tricks and swing a band like no other.

[@mikeromano2219]

AGREED. BUT WHAT IS THE PURPOSE IN DRIVING A BIG BAND DOING STICK TRICKS.See NONE. REGARDS.

[@thenel2162]

@@mikeromano2219 entertainment!

[@DYNODRUM]

You know Man .Sonny started this stuff in early 60's or earlier .Put it in perspective ,first. I knew three Great Drummers that knew Him and hung w/ Him..,all had Respect and learned from Seeing Him Live.. Showmanship ,kinda travelled from this into the Rock scene ,also. He had impeccable timing while also doing these so called antics .Try it .. Most ,so called drumma's today copy as much as pissable . Play the same way . Do not have originality. Get it. The ones who really studdy and apply are the variable. Sonny ,paved a good course .Buddy also did not care for it . Thats a Different Drummer ...

[@HadEnough745]

Great video! Sonny seems to go overboard with the little tricks. Butch Miles was a much better fit IMO. He hit everything cleanly. Sonny is all over the place here.

[@thecrippledrummer]

Had Enough I love Butch’s playing with Basie and he’s a friend, but in my opinion, Sonny was born to play with Basie. He could swing that band so beautifully. Even after he left Basie, Frank Sinatra insisted that he be in the band when they backed him. The only reason he left is that his drinking became worse & worse and Basie was tired of bailing him out.

[@StixH]

Agreed, but great for a live show!

[@starling9172]

Showcasing his skills

[@thenel2162]

sonny is the man. Fantastic! swang his ass off.

[@stevenhelfand7883]

Butch definitely took Sonny's approach and refined it beautifully... but there wouldn't be Butch Miles as we know him w/Basie if Sonny hadn't paved the way first.

[@bustabass9025]

Drummer really works on my somewhat relatively short bass player's attention span. He obviously demonstrates some very talented drumming skills, showing that he's capable of some equally dynamic soloing. But after that much of it, it begins to sound more like noise than a seamless musical statement. Won't comment on the slight-of-hand juggling act. To each his own in that regard. There's also a lot to be said about the band member who doesn't dress uniformly with the rest of the band, but more like the bandleader. 😕

[@thecrippledrummer]

I don’t believe Sonny was a regular member of the band at this point, so that’s probably why the clothing. He was one of the best big band drummers ever, and many considered him to be “the” drummer for Basie (me included). He could swing that band like nobody else.

[@bustabass9025]

@@thecrippledrummer No doubt. But like I said, to each his own. I guess

[@d.jpayne7534]

Reading the comments on this on this post on Sonny is interesting mainly talking about antics ...this was him...I’m glad he expressed himself how he saw fit and not how someone else thought he should be doing...✊🏾

[@bustabass9025]

@@d.jpayne7534 Like I said, to each his own ✊

[@jazzfan445]

@@thecrippledrummer I agree with you about Sonny being "the" drummer for Basie! Sonny was definitely the regular Basie drummer on this video. It was part of his 1972-1974 stint as a regular member of the band.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Love the vintage sound and vintage drummers, but not a fan of stick tricks. Leave that to the jugglers.