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PAYNE, Cecil

(b 14 December 1922, Brooklyn, NYC; d 27 November 2007, Camden NJ) Baritone sax, also alto sax and flute. With Pepper Adams, Serge Chaloff, Gerry Mulligan and Leo Parker, one of the few baritones of his generation in modern jazz and an underrated talent: the baritone just doesn't get enough attention. Record debut on alto at J.J. Johnson session '46 for Savoy; with Dizzy Gillespie '47-8 including a European tour, freelanced with James Moody, Tadd Dameron, others; with Illinois Jacquet '52-4; worked outside music, with Randy Weston late '50s; acted and played in The Connection '61; with Lionel Hampton, Machito, Weston again, Woody Herman '60s; lived in Europe for a year; formed the Jazz Zodiac Quartet, joined NY Jazz Repertory Orchestra '74, worked shows and tours including with vocalist sister Cavril Payne late '74 (on her album Teasin' Tan); played at Carnegie Hall mid-'80.

He played on Dameron's lovely Fontainebleau '56, added dark colour and weight to John Coltrane's gorgeous Dakar '57 (just Coltrane, Adams, Payne and rhythm: no brass), many other sessions. His own albums were all small-group sets with fine sidemen, five with Duke Jordan: Patterns Of Jazz and Bird's Night '56-7 on Savoy, Cool Blues and The Connection '61-2 on Charlie Parker (the latter also in French Vogue two-disc set Movie Music with a Jordan album; Stop And Listen To Cecil Payne from Charlie Parker was also later a Fresh Sound CD). Brookfield Andante '66 was made in Manchester with UK rhythm, Bright Moments '79 in London, both on Spotlite. Zodiac c.1969 on Strata-East (quintet with Kenny Dorham) was followed by Brooklyn Brothers '73 (Jordan the other brother) and Bird Gets The Worm '76 (with Tom Harrell), both on Muse; Casbah '85 was a quartet on Stash. Cerupa '93 on Delmark was a welcome return, a quintet with Harold Mabern on piano, guest trumpets on two tracks, a good mix of veterans and newcomers, followed by similar Scotch And Milk '96 with three reeds.