Cecil Payne Chic Boom, Live At The Jazz Showcase
Delmark DE-529

During Cecil Payne's two years with Dizzy Gillespie he recorded solos on "Ow!" and "Stay On It" that cemented his reputation as bebop's first baritonist. On a 1948 session with James Moody and Chano Pozo, Cecil waxed the oft-recorded "Cu-Ba," kicking off a career as a composer of pungent melodies and protein-rich harmonic progressions whose logic masks a subtle, complex sensibility. On Chic Boom, Live At The Jazz Showcase Cecil Payne and his unit converse with a swinging simpatico. Cecil has also recorded with Tadd Dameron, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Dorham, James Moody, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet and others. Chic Boom, Cecil's fourth Delmark album, was recorded live in Chicago just a few months ago in August with Eric Alexander, tenor sax; Jim Rotondi, trumpet; Harold Mabern, piano; John Webber, bass; Joe Farnsworth, drums. Also available: Cerupa (DE-478), Scotch and Milk (DE-494), Paynes Window (DE-509).