Our guest today is Nicholas Peyton, a multi-dimensional Grammy Award-winning artist that hails from what I consider to be our most

multi-dimensional and fertile artistic city, New Orleans.

Nicholas grew up in a musical family.

His mother, Maria Payton, was a classical pianist and operatic singer.

His father, Walter Payton Jr., a legendary bassist and educator, who I had the pleasure

of playing with and getting to hang around

with some. Nicholas is primarily known as a trumpeter. In fact, one of the leading trumpeters

of our or any generation, as well as the heir apparent to the rich lineage of New Orleans trumpet

masters, going back to King Oliver and Louis Armstrong.

I would say Buddy Bolden as well, but I don't think anyone's actually heard Buddy Bolden play,

but by reputation for sure.

But I can tell you that trumpet player only scratches the surface in describing Nicholas.

I would better characterize Nick as a creator or a creative.

Yes, he's an amazing trumpeter, but equally talented and productive as a composer,

producer, pianist, bassist, drummer, writer, blogger, but you hadn't heard that term in a while,

blogger.

And all around leading advocate and voice for our music.

He's a fearless, direct, he's highly informed, and in my experience, amazingly spot on when he speaks of anything musical and creative, as well as their intersection with politics.

And that has actually remained constant since I first met Nick when he was just 17 years old.

Nicholas is the originator of the term BAM, Black American Music, and hashtag BAM,

and has penned numerous writings and led many discussions of the problems surrounding the name

and associations of the term jazz or jazz.

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