INTERVIEW: NOLA musician Nicholas Payton heads to NYC
Photo: Nicholas Payton will play the Smoke Jazz Club in New York City. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by AMT PR with permission.
Nicholas Payton, the acclaimed trumpeter and pianist, will be joined by bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White for a series of shows at the Smoke Jazz Club in New York City, kicking off Wednesday, Jan. 28, and continuing through the weekend. The trio is reuniting after collaborating on Payton’s The Couch Sessions album.
Payton is a well-known presence in the music world, someone who has been combining the many sonic sounds of New Orleans, his hometown, with other forms and genres, according to his official biography. In sum, he’s trying to explore the many sides of Black American Music.
Recently Payton exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox to talk about his musical influences and what fans can expect at the Smoke Jazz shows. The trumpeter responded to the queries in lowercase.
Do you feel lucky to have grown up in a musical town like New Orleans?
i don’t believe in luck, i’m blessed. some indigenous cultures say you pick your parents before you’re born. i’d say my life certainly corroborates that theory.
What’s it like performing with Buster Williams and Lenny White?
rooted and free.
Did you like the magic you three created on the Couch Sessions?
i have to like it before i let y’all hear it.
Have you always been interested in being a multi-instrumentalist? Would you say trumpet is your first love?
yes, i was playing everything around me as soon as i could crawl up to it. Lisa Lisa was my first love.
When writers cannot pinpoint your exact sound or influence, is that a good day at the office?
it depends on how obvious or obscure the influence is. i could either be put off or impressed. that said, i never strive to mask my sources, unless we’re talking compositionally where it’s a plagiarism issue.
Does the status quo — whatever that might be in life — scare you?
no, but i tend to scare those who seek to uphold the status quo.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Nicholas Payton will play with Buster Williams and Lenny White, Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, at the Smoke Jazz Club in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
