Artist Name: Cecil Payne Artist Biography: Born in Brooklyn on December 14, 1922, Cecil Payne proved one of the bebop era´s strongest baritone saxophonists; nonetheless, he has always worked in undeserved obscurity. After leaving the military service in 1946, Payne cast aside the guitar, alto, and clarinet to pick up the bari for a brief stint with Roy Eldridge´s Big Band. Payne soon joined the most progressive big band of the era, Dizzy Gillespie´s, where he made his reputation as a fluid player on a sometimes cumbersome instrument and played on the orchestra´s groundbreaking recordings, including Cubano-Be/Cubano-Bop. Payne later freelanced in NYC with Tadd Dameron and Coleman Hawkins (´49-´52), later working with Illinois Jacquet (´52-´54). Payne has remained highly active during the decades since; even though his eyesight has begun to fail him, his songful sax, flowing lines and warm tone, remain fully intact to this day. E-mail:   Web Site: