Nicholas Payton

Trumpeter, keyboardist, and singer Nicholas Payton offers a sound, steeped in post-bop while exploring genres beyond the confines of jazz. Payton garnered early attention with 1995's From This Moment and 1996's Gumbo Nouveau. He played on the soundtrack to Robert Altman's film Kansas City. Beginning with 2003's fusion-influenced Sonic Trance, Payton has broadened his musical palette. Coining the term "Black American Music" or BAM, his albums, like 2011's Bitches, 2014's Numbers, and 2017's Afro-Caribbean Mixtape, have found him pushing beyond contemporary jazz by joining elements of hip-hop, funk, and R&B. While his trumpet prowess remains his calling-card, Payton showcased his piano skills as on 2019's Relaxin' with Nick, 2021's Smoke Sessions, and 2022's Couch Sessions. 2025's Triune was a trio date with Esperanza Spalding and Karriem Riggins. In 2026 he teamed with Butcher Brown to celebrate the centennials of John Coltrane and Miles Davis on Supreme Blue.