 Recorded in October of 1957, the Count Basie Orchestra's "Basie" (aka E=MC2), Roulette 500001, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Big Band recordings ever made. Sonny Payne is playing beautifully throughout-no surprise there-he was one of the most swinging and slick drummers ever! This is a transcription of the first tune on the record, "The Kid from Redbank" which refers to Basie, himself, and features Basie's virtuosity at the piano. It's uptempo and the band is super tight with Sonny in the driver's seat. Of note: Sonny plays hi-hat time throughout, masterfully altering the spread, or lack thereof, of the hats according to the ensemble or solo piano sections. There's lots of phrasing in "3" by Basie and Sonny within the 4/4 framework which marries these same hemiola figures written in the arrangement by Neal Hefti. 
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