What a way to begin the morning, any morning. Because we are digging the inescapable groove heard on Smoke Sessions particularly on 'Hangin' in and Jivin' from the new Nicholas Payton record out on the label of the same name that the New Orleanian icon trumpeter, pianist and keyboardist is on with Skyline's Ron Carter. A great way to start any day let alone today. It's a first for Payton with the Second Great Miles Davis Quintet icon Carter
George Coleman is a guest on a release that's out at the end of October. Last we heard from the Miles Davis saxophone icon (a big influence on such top UK players as Iain Ballamy) he was superb on a 2020 release with Brandi Disterheft. Payton has until this record not played with Carter before so this is one significant reason why the record is special for long time followers.
As for the consistently impressive Riggins check his role on Common's A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 grooving with Robert Glasper, Burniss Travis and Isaiah Sharkey and by contrast playing standards on This Dream of You with Diana Krall.
Payton reveres Miles Davis live album Four & More released in 1966 that both Coleman and Carter are on and is inspired by both Miles and Herbie in his own playing on trumpet and piano, the latch of the door up to open that brilliant skylight and resultant Milesian vista so significantly illuminated enabled by the presence of the towering Ron.
The immaculate Sear Sound-recorded album includes a version of Herbie's 'Toys' from Speak Like a Child and Keith Jarrett's 'No Lonely Nights' (from At the Blue Note, Complete Recordings). Nicholas Payton, top. Photo via Spotify
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