When
Cecil Payne turned 70 in 1992, the baritone saxophonist was showing no signs of slowing down.
Payne was 73 when he recorded
Scotch and Milk, a fine hard bop date employing trumpeter
Marcus Belgrave, tenor saxmen
Lin Halliday and
Eric Alexander, pianist
Harold Mabern, bassist
John Ore, and drummer
Joe Farnsworth.
Payne's chops are in top shape on this 1996 date, and the veteran saxman plays with a lot of passion on such exuberant originals as "Wilhemenia" (a
Sonny Rollins-type jazz/calypso number), "Que Pasaning," and "Cit Sac" (which finds
Payne switching to the flute). The only tune on the CD that
Payne didn't write is the standard "If I Should Lose You," which serves as a nice example of his soulful ballad playing. Nothing groundbreaking takes places on
Scotch and Milk; most of the material could have been recorded for Blue Note in the 1950s or 1960s instead of 1996.
Scotch and Milk is a perfect example of a veteran improviser excelling by sticking with what he does best. ~ Alex Henderson