Nicholas Payton: Nick @ Night

Nick @ Night again shows Payton's sense of humor with a catchy title that provides an excellent sequel to the previous Payton's Place (Verve, 1997). The fiery "Captain Crunch (Meets the Cereal Killer)" also pushes the envelope with its tongue-in-cheek moniker. But if we elbow the comparison further, this latest affair is much more focused compositionally, although things stay a bit too middle of the road at times. One has to also question the use of harpsichord and celeste on a few tracks. The novelty of such does nothing to really detract from the proceedings, but then there doesn't seem to be a clear need for it either.

The meat and potatoes of the proceedings are clearly found in two of Payton's dedications- "Faith" which is for Faith Evans and "Little Angel" which was composed for Payton's young son. Both are ballad-type pieces, abounding with great harmony lines and melodic soloing delivered with sensitivity and verve. If like so many say, ballad playing provides the litmus test for genuine jazz talent, then Payton's got it covered (Warfield's breathy ballad work is also in a class by itself). The title track and the Ramsey Lewis/Earth, Wind & Fire opus "Sun Goddess" both summon the soul and funk influence that players of Payton's generation are so skillfully making a part of the jazz oeuvre these days.

The benefits of keeping a band together have been proven by a plethora of musicians over the years from Duke Ellington to Sun Ra. Payton and his crew continue the practice and the musical chemistry these guys possess is distinguishable to even the novice. Saxophonist Tim Warfield provides the "cool blue" to Payton's "spicy gumbo," while the precision conveyed by pianist Anthony Wonsey, bassist Rueben Rogers, and drummer Adonis Rose is uncanny. Hey, and if you dig Payton and the guys here, don't miss Adonis Rose's own two dates with this band on the Criss Cross label.