By the time drummer Sonny Payne joined Count Basie in December 1954, he had played with bands led by Paul Bascomb, Hot Lips Page, Earl Bostic, Tiny Grimes and Erskine Hawkins. After he tried out with Basie, the pianist loved his fresh, novel approach—driving the swing with a steady beat while sneaking in accents, polyrhythms and a sassy attitude that ex…
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