Nicholas Payton: A Touch of Silver

Nicholas Payton's third release as a leader arrived just after his popular collaboration with Doc Cheatham, which resulted in some much-deserved attention for Payton. One of his compositions, "A Touch of Silver," features Joshua Redman on tenor and is a prime example of Payton's improvisational abilities. As Redman ends his final phrase, Payton jumps in with a high, soaring melody, and his band reacts accordingly. After quickly grabbing the spotlight, he develops an extraordinary solo consisting of lines that only a trumpeter with his technical skill and tasteful ear could blow. Not only is Payton's playing beautiful, it consists of a sound and vocabulary that are truly unique to him.