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The Wee Trio: Wee +3
by Dan Bilawsky
The Wee Trio delivered quite a bit of variety over the course of its first four albums. The first two--Capitol Diner, Vol. I (Bionic Records, 2008) and Capitol Diner, Vol. II: Animal Style (Bionic Records, 2010)--established the musical ground and syntax that are part and parcel of this three-way partnership; Ashes To Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective (Bionic Record, 2012) demonstrated much of what can be done to mutate and honor David Bowie's music, almost foretelling the growth of Bowie-inflected ...
Continue ReadingNicholas Payton Trio at Dazzle
by Geoff Anderson
Nicholas Payton Trio Dazzle Denver, CO March 5, 2016 Payton or Peyton? Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. They're both from New Orleans. Both Payton and Peyton are in the entertainment business. They've both recently wrapped up brief stays in Denver. And they are (or in the case of Peyton, were) a couple of the best in their respective businesses. Payton played is last gig in Denver Sunday night as part two ...
Continue ReadingStevie Holland: Life Goes On
by C. Michael Bailey
Vocalist Stevie Holland has blazed quite a path for herself. She is fifteen years into a career that has produced seven recordings, the most recent being the present impressionistic Life Goes On. While always refined, Holland takes her refinement to a gilded level that is almost a vapor, an essence. She never overuses her perfectly balanced soprano voice, erring always on the side of sophistication and pure simplicity. Holland approaches ten Gary William Friedman-arranged standards and originals like Matisse beginning ...
Continue ReadingNicholas Payton: Sketches of Brilliance
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Trumpeter Nicholas Payton has distinguished himself over the decades as a continually evolving artist of significant vision, artistry and focus. He's a musician who knows, respects and displays his roots, knows where he's at now and where he's going creatively. Under his own BMF Records label, Payton recently released Sketches of Spain a new recording with Payton performing the Miles Davis/Gil Evans classic live--a daunting accomplishment. His original composition, “Black American Symphony" is a forthcoming release. All About ...
Continue ReadingNicholas Payton: Boston, February 24, 2011
by Andrew J. Sammut
Nicholas PaytonScullers Jazz ClubBoston, MAFebruary 24, 2011 Pressing the unmuted bell of his trumpet right up to the microphone, trumpet player Nicholas Payton invited, impressed, seduced and surprised the crowd at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston. Yet he never assaulted the audience, despite power and confidence to burn. Immense energy was being channeled, but never restrained. Thursday's 8:00 pm set began at the darkest ends of both register and mood. Payton's ...
Continue ReadingNicholas Payton: Playing Strong and Playing Blue
by R.J. DeLuke
Trumpeter Nicholas Payton started out years ago as a musician known for being steeped in the traditions of his New Orleans origins. The “young lion" of about fifteen years ago had a brash, bold sound. He even produced a Louis Armstrong tribute--Dear Louis (Verve, 2001)--and did an album working with the classy Armstrong contemporary Doc Cheatham--Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton (Verve, 1997). But he continued to grow and explore other avenues, showing contemporary influences with the release of Sonic Trance ...
Continue ReadingNicholas Payton: Into The Blue
by Chris May
This is a strange mixture of an album. It includes passages of extraordinary and singular beauty and others of noodling anonymity. Practically all of the interest lies in trumpeter Nicholas Payton's performances; most of the blandness comes from his band. The two best tracks, “Drucilla" and “Chinatown," are so exquisitely gorgeous that they almost make up for the grey stuff. But they're outnumbered and it's a tough battle.
The approximate dividing line is keyboard player Kevin Hays. Along ...
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