Biography
Nicholas Payton, born September 26, 1973, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and social activist. Raised in a deeply musical family—his father, Walter Payton, was a renowned bassist and sousaphonist, and his mother, Maria Payton, a pianist and vocalist—Payton began playing trumpet at age four and was performing professionally by age ten. He was immersed early in the New Orleans brass band tradition, sitting in with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band by age nine and receiving his first steady gig from guitarist Danny Barker at The Famous Door on Bourbon Street. He attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the University of New Orleans, quickly establishing himself as a prodigy and a sought-after musician.
Payton's career accelerated in the 1990s, touring with jazz luminaries such as Marcus Roberts and Elvin Jones before signing with Verve Records. His debut album, 'From This Moment,' was released in 1995, and he won a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Instrumental Solo on 'Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton.' Over his career, Payton has released more than 20 albums as a leader, traversing traditional and contemporary styles and collaborating with artists across genres, including Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, and Jill Scott. Notably, he is a vocal critic of the limitations of the term 'jazz,' advocating instead for the broader concept of 'Black American Music' (#BAM), a term he introduced to highlight the lineage and cultural breadth of Black music in America.
Payton's work as a composer includes orchestral pieces such as 'The Black American Symphony,' and he has performed with major symphony orchestras. His writings and activism have influenced discourse on race, genre, and the legacy of Black musicians in American culture. Through his innovative artistry and outspoken advocacy, Payton remains a leading force in shaping the evolution and understanding of Black American music.
Fun Facts
- Nicholas Payton coined the term '#BAM' (Black American Music) to describe the lineage of Black improvisational music and has been a vocal critic of the term 'jazz.'
- He is a multi-instrumentalist, proficient not only on trumpet but also on piano, bass, and drums.
- Payton won his first Grammy Award before the age of 25 for his collaboration with Doc Cheatham.
- He composed 'The Black American Symphony,' which was commissioned and performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Walter Payton - Father and early teacher, foundational influence in New Orleans jazz and brass band tradition (Young Tuxedo Brass Band performances) [1973–1990s]
- Danny Barker - Gave Payton his first steady professional gig and mentored him in traditional New Orleans jazz (Performances at The Famous Door) [1980s]
- Clark Terry - Mentor and early collaborator, influential in Payton's trumpet technique and jazz approach (Early performances and collaborations) [1980s–1990s]
- Ellis Marsalis - Mentor during Payton's formative years in New Orleans (Educational guidance and performance opportunities) [1980s]
- Clyde Kerr Jr. - Mentor and trumpet instructor in New Orleans (Educational mentorship) [1980s]
Key Collaborators
- Doc Cheatham - Co-leader and collaborator on Grammy-winning album (Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton)
- Terri Lyne Carrington - Collaborator on Grammy-winning project (New Standards Vol 1)
- Marcus Roberts - Touring and recording collaborator in early career (Tours and performances) [Early 1990s]
- Elvin Jones - Touring collaborator (Tours and performances) [Early 1990s]
- Bill Charlap - Collaborator on Blue Note Records release (Plays Gershwin: The American Soul)
- Ray Charles - Recording and performance collaborator (Various performances) [1990s–2000s]
- Herbie Hancock - Collaborator and peer in jazz innovation (Various performances) [1990s–2000s]
- Jill Scott - Collaborator blending jazz with contemporary styles (Various performances) [2000s]
Artists Influenced
- Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Inspired by Payton's approach to trumpet and advocacy for Black American Music (Stretch Music) [2010s–present]
- Younger New Orleans jazz musicians - Inspired by Payton's advocacy for #BAM and his stylistic versatility (Various) [2000s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Payton's Place | 1998-01-01 | Album |
| notes from the zen gangster | 2025-05-21 | Album |
| Into the Blue | 2008-04-15 | Album |
| TRIUNE | 2025-08-29 | Album |
| Relaxin' with Nick | 2019-10-25 | Album |
| Numbers | 2014-07-22 | Album |
| Fingerpainting: The Music Of Herbie Hancock | 1997-01-01 | Album |
| Afro-Caribbean Mixtape | 2017-02-10 | Album |
| Ske-Dat-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch | 2014-01-01 | Album |
| DRIP | 2023-09-26 | Album |
| Dear Louis | 2001-01-01 | Album |
| Letters | 2015-08-07 | Album |
| Gumbo Nouveau | 1996-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- The Last Goodbye (Payton's Place)
- Chinatown (Into the Blue)
- Montrose Forest featuring Nicholas Payton
- Unconditional Love
- Cram 'N Exam - Hard Bop - Jazz Secrets
- Relaxin' with Nick (Relaxin' with Nick)
- #bamisforthechildren
- Futuristic
- Montrose Forest [Feat. Nicholas Payton] (Letters From The Atlantic)
- a smile in her lifetime (notes from the zen gangster)
External Links
Tags: #american, #contemporary-jazz, #jazz
References
Heard on WWOZ
Nicholas Payton has been played 50 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.