NICHOLAS PAYTON (trumpeter, bandleader) was born September 26, 1973 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Noted for his clear tone and technical mastery, Payton started playing trumpet at age 4, and was brought up in a musical family – at age 12 he joined the All Star Jazz Band and became a protégé of Wynton Marsalis, going on to study with Ellis Marsalis at the University of New Orleans. Considered one of the “keepers of the hard bop flame” he has performed with Elvin Jones, Marcus Roberts, Christian McBride and Roy Hargrove. His duo recording with veteran trumpeter Doc Cheatham produced a Grammy award.