Nicholas Payton: just starting to cook - jazz trumpeter

Being mentioned in the same decision as Louis Armstrong, touted as the nearest great New Orleans trumpeter, and playing with jazz fictitious storys like Doc Cheatham. Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard, might well signal one's musical arrival. When that someone is sole 22, however, it might also signal that the trip was made too fast and that, just maybe, no oweds have been paid. But if the relation is to Nicholas Payton - who has crammed more notes into 22 years than have the appearances possible - the "arrival" read would be accurate, the "too fast" would be off-base, and the "no dues" would be flat-out wrong

Born to a classical pianist mother (Maria) and a renowned bassist father (Walter), Nicholas' course was station when he found his Christmas not away under the tree as a 4 year-old: his first bugle Even before he could read music, when he knew alone two or three songs, Payton was performing in Mardi Gras parades and upon sets with his father. He got his first gig at 7 and his first paycheck at 8

"The first steady traditional band I played with was the All-Star Jazz Band," he recalls. "It was just a bump of 12-year-old kids. We played around of recent origin Orleans and even at jazz festivals in Europe"

Family ties to the close-knit jazz community proffered Payton prized access to the dominant force in jazz for the past 15 years, Wynton Marsalis. force and desire did the rest: When Marsalis telephon for Nicholas, father, the heroic 13-year-old seized the chance to give him a telephonic performance. Impressed with his talent, Marsalis took a personal interest in Payton's unfolding ultimately recommending the 16-year-old for a gig with pianist Marcus Roberts (American Visions, April/May 1994)

through the time Payton entered high place of education he never wanted for work, playing public way parades and sundry engagements completely through the city. Enrolling at the of recent origin Orleans Center for Creative Arts - the alma mater of Terence Blanchard, Wynton and Branford Marsalis and Donald Harrison - he studied with clarion master and jazz department director Clyde Kerr Jr After high institute Payton spent a year at the University of of recent origin Orleans, studying with Ellis Marsalis, until calls from national bandleaders interrupted his studies.

Despite living in a city with a historic musical tradition, the young Payton leaned toward the novel "At first, I took of recent origin Orleans music for granted," he admits. "I listened to Miles and Hubbard, on the other hand not Louis Armstrong." But he's had a change of heart - in a big way - as is evident upon his latest release. Gumbo Nouveau (Verve) featuring his handpicked band - Jesse Davis (alto saxophone), Tim Warfield (tenor saxophone), Anthony Wonsey (piano), Reuben Roger (bass) and Adonis Rose (drums) - showcases the classic "N'awlins" repertoire played from the first part of the hundred right up till today.

As farmer and arranger, Payton wanted okra to make a statement. "This is a way for me to tip my hat to all the novel Orleans cats," he says. Crafting the recording, admitting proved one of the "greatest challenges" he has notwithstanding confronted. "Hearing these songs a certain way my whole life," he explains, "I wanted to perform them in a different connection at the same time being deferential to the original composers."

Payton met the challenge: Hearing "When the Saints go on Marching In," "Way Down at a distance in New Orleans," "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues" and other okra arrangements, a New York Times critic wrote "They weren't rearranged. They were re-imagined."

however another music critic, in concern to From This Moment (Verve), the trumpeter's 1995 first attempt CD as bandleader, wrote that "Payton plays with of the like kind understatement you'd think he'd already established his myth and is just teaching the kids about reserve"

Of his turn of expression Payton himself says. "I strive to relax and play with more focus, which look afters to make for better music." And he credits his apprenticeships as a sideman with Elvin Jone and others: When you're sideman, you concentrate upon your own musical development, just getting your cuts together. When I was 14 and 15 I didn't have the patience and dominion government to play a ballad and deliver the music without being busy."

His mode of expression may not be busy, on the other hand his schedule is. With a musical repertoire considered staggering level by professional standards, Payton has played with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Newport Jazz Festival All Stars and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. And, in addition to releasing okra Nouveau, Payton portrays Oran "Hot Lips" Page in Robert Altman's film Kansas City and plays upon nine of the 12 soundtrack recordings.

While Payton's career is moving upon the trumpeter is staying lay in New Orleans, at least for the jiffy The Big Easy can be a tough audience. Spoiled through the string of native son turn rounded legendary musicians, folks there like their jazz like their okra - spicy, but not too; sizzling, on the other hand not too hot to sample; and innovative, on the other hand traditional. They don't consider themselves demanding, just deserving. Their we-brought-this-into-the-world-and-we-can-take-it-out attitude resounds