Cute

One of the most famous drum features in the big band pantheon, Cute has been performed countless times over the years by countless bands. Its bright and light tempo and cheeky melody provide a marvelous framework for Sonny Payne's deft brushwork on the original recording, but there are a few other fun surprises along the way as well.

After four measures of drums to establish the tempo and feel, a Basie piano 'plink' ushers in the melody, carried by the bucket-muted brass while the drums continue to provide fills in the gaps. Said melody is followed up by a flute solo, handled delightfully by Frank Wess on the original. Following this chorus of flute is a chorus of drums, where your drummer should be sure to strike a balance between the virtuosic and the subtle in order to get the most out of their performance.

Once the drums have wrapped up their statement, a single chorus of sax soli commences at measure 77. There are a few moderately tricky passages during this, but the feel should remain as light and easy as possible. The melody returns in the brass afterward at measure 109, with the final few measures tagged. Another drum fill sets up the ending - an appropriately cutesy blip in the flute and bass.