About Don Payne
Reviews
© 2002, Don Payne
 "America's most discerning bag ladies prefer jazz from Recycled Notes!" |
Two recent recordings by Don Payne bring a whole basket full of great jazz standards and some originals by this double bassist and composer. He has a long an impressive musical background and has performed with some of America’s most renowned singers and instrumentalists, both on tour and on recordings. Don has worked and/or recorded with a wide variety of historic artists, including Kai Winding, Astrud Gilberto, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett, Chris Connor, Herbie Mann and Patti Wicks. And he appeared in the late 1950's with Ornette Coleman’s first band as well as on Coleman’s first recording.
With Rhapsodic Echoes, we have five originals by the bassist, with the balance of the eleven pieces composed by the other players from the session. The title piece, "Rhapsodic Echoes", begins as a nice conversation between bass and piano reminiscent of the Bill Evans/Scott Lafaro pairings, and features the legendary pianist Don Friedman, who with Don Payne composed this tune. On Payne’s "Promise Me", this bassist opens this swinging piece with a neatly stated line and with great support from Mr. Friedman and nice brushwork from drummer John Yarling. Minor Ballade again showcases the wonderful and distinctive writing of Friedman. Don gets to lay down a lovely compliment to this piece with his solo. A “meet you in the pocket” blues has tenor saxophonist Dave Hubbard join the trio with Mark Marineau on piano. Everyone gets to blow and Yarling trades fours with the trio.
Bassist Payne wrote "Unscheduled Departures" as a dedication to all the great jazz artists “who left the party early” but gave us beautiful recordings to treasure for years. This haunting but peaceful ballad that features guitarist Bob Mann and pianist Kenny Ascher. "For Pete’s Sake", a Payne composition written for the late trumpet player Pete Minger features tenor saxophonist John Michalak, pianist Friedman, and the bass on this medium-tempo stroll. "M.A.P.S." is an acronym for the foursome that comprises this quartet. This was a reunion of old friends who played in the studios together 30 years ago. On this Payne piece guitarist Mann, pianist Ascher, Payne and drummer Schwartzberg all contribute. "Uptown Blues" features its composer, tenor saxophonist Dave Hubbard, in this lay down and groovy blues. Don Payne lays down a solid line with great support from Yarling.
On the second recording, Room at the Top with the Patti Wicks trio, bassist Don Payne is the anchor of this tight knit threesome. Pianist and vocalist Wicks is featured on this collection of standards and three originals (two by Don Payne and one by the pianist). On Wick’s "Lilac Wine", her sultry and smoky voice charms the listener and sets the stage for this lovely recording. On Irving Berlin’s "How Deep Is The Ocean?" the pianist is featured in a swinging rendition of this classic tune. Bassist Payne delivers a nicely constructed solo. "You Don’t Know what Love Is" again features the voice and piano of Ms. Wicks in this slow and sensitive ballad. "You and The Night and The Music" allows the vocalist and the trio to stretch out in this swinging standard. On "I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life", Wicks delivers a hint of the late Carmen McRae in this self-accompanied lush ballad. "Promise Me" features composer bassist Don Payne. This is an example of the great “ears” (as pianist Bill Mays would say) of this trio. And great bass solo, Mr. Payne! "Morning" is a groovy Latin-flavored tune by Clare Fischer that features a cool feel by the trio. Wicks’ deep and moody voice on "You Go to My Head" is highlighted by her piano accompaniment and the tasteful choice of notes by the bassist.
Double bassist Don Payne’s multifaceted career has taken him from his beginning on the New York scene through studio work (as a result of the “rock revolution”) where he has been active for over 25 years. In the early 1990’s at the urging of his friends Ray Brown and Percy Heath (Don’s longtime friend and mentor) he returned to his first love – the acoustic bass and contempory jazz. These two recordings are fine examples of this bassist’s creativity both in his playing and compositional skill. Don gets a deep, clean and rich sound from his “old as sin” Tyrolean instrument. The dedication to his craft and his exuberant joy in playing are evident in these two very successful projects. His many fans await his next recording.
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 4/12/02:
South Florida bassist Don Payne made his name in the 1950's with jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman. After a long detour as a studio musician, Payne has picked up his 200 year–old bass and returned to playing straight-ahead, uncompromising jazz. He uses three bands on this recording of 11 original tunes (Rhapsodic Echoes), but his huge resonant tone is the anchor throughout.
Payne builds a powerful, driving rhythmic foundation for South Florida’s Dave Hubbard and John Michalak (tenor saxophones and Mark Marineau (piano) to expound on the blues. With a New York quartet featuring pianist Kenny Asher and guitarist Bob Mann, Payne goes in another direction, offering two finely wrought tunes of jewel-like elegance. Drummer John Yarling employs a swinging approach and Don Friedman is always crisp and incisive on piano. Friedman also contributed two tunes, "Minor Ballade" and "Almost Everything" that are notable for their clarity and warm, eloquent melodies.
But this is Payne’s showcase. His deep, centered tone and tasteful, well-chosen solos are a model of professional bassmanship. Moreover, the sound quality on his private label has the polish of a major-label release.
Gene Lees, March 27, 2002
The whole album (Rhapsodic Echoes) is wonderful, and Don Friedman blows me away. I keep it in the car now.