Afro-Caribbean sound
These winter days we break the cold and ice and listen to the great double album "Afro-Caribbean Mixtape" (Payton Records 2017) by American trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton.
Born in New Orleans to musical family, Payton chose the trumpet as his main instrument from an early age. The influence of Miles Davis is visible and can be felt in his approach to music. The young Nicholas plays in clubs with his father and even occasionally as a street musician. After his musical education, Payton grew up and is now one of the big names not only on the New Orleans scene.
Today we are listening to and talking about his double album "Afro-Caribbean Mixtape" with warm Caribbean music, with a wink to both hip-hop and Latin music and jazz. But also containing strong social messages and topical comments.
The percussion of Daniel Sadownick and the keyboards of Kevin Hays have a special contribution to the extremely warm and fine sound in the album. The band is complemented by Vicente Archer on bass and Joe Dyson on drums.
The characteristic sound of the trumpet here travels from pieces in typical retro style with references to the music of Miles Davis, through African and Caribbean motifs to contemporary urban dance rhythms, but also stepping on classical jazz techniques, despite the words of Payton himself: “Jazz does not exist”.
The individual pieces are collected as a colorful selection of different genres that we can enjoy, no matter what kind of music we prefer. Of course you will find it on digital platforms.
January 2022
Image © МА
