BITCHES, the highly anticipated and provocative new concept recording from Nicholas Payton, successfully blends elements of modern Blues, Hip-Hop and Soul. Composed, written, performed and recorded entirely by Grammy Award winning Payton, BITCHES is no less than a thrilling musical joyride. It is a bold autobiographical solo masterwork that features deeply soulful melodies and sensual grooves musically chronicling the joys and heartbreak of relationship.
Mixed by legendary engineer, Tom Soares (Erykah Badu, Rakim, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ja Rule), the recording features the crème de la crème vocalists who lend their prodigious talents to the song and story cycle including Esperanza Spalding on the breezy Freesia; N’dambi on the raw ‘Togetherness Foreverness’ ; Saunders Sermons performing a soulful duet on ‘Flip The Script’; Cassandra Wilson lending her warm tones to a new pop classic ‘You Take Me Places I’ve Never Been Before’ and Chinah Blac on the humorous title track.
Not just a vocal vehicle for Nicholas and his guests, Payton’s warm and classic trumpet provides instrumental commentary on the unfolding love story, in songs like the shimmering ‘Shades of Hue’, the sensitive ‘Indigo’, and the inspirational ‘You are the Spark’. Payton’s broad and genre defying musical vision also includes contemporary tools, and his deft use of modern technology can be heard on the mockingly playful ‘iStole your iPhone’, ‘Love and Faith’, ‘Truth or Dare’, the biblically themed ‘By My Side’ (Ildeth’s Blues) and ‘The Second Show (Adam’s Plea)’ as well as the infectious ‘Don’t I Love You Good’, and uplifting gospel influenced work, ‘Give Light, Live Life, Love’— which features a masterful B-3 organ and piano performance by Payton.
Of the song cycle, Payton says, “I wanted to give birth to something really beautiful.” Originally recorded for Concord Records, the executives inexplicably deemed the work too controversial for release. Thankfully, BMF Productions, Nicholas Payton’s own company, in partnership with the German record label, In+Out, are able to release this important project.
Jazz Times has called Nicholas Payton ‘Jazz’s Most Provocative Trumpeter’, and make no mistake, BITCHES is a brave and deeply personal revelation that is sure to shake up the conversation.
As a leader, BITCHES is Payton’s 9th recording in a discography that includes countless others as a guest artist, representing a multitude of musical genres. He is credited on well over 120 recordings as a composer, arranger, special guest or sideman.
Hailed as a virtuoso before he was even out of high school, the New Orleans native has earned praise as one of the most important artists of our time.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT NICHOLAS PAYTON:
“Ferociously gifted.” –New York Times
“Mr. Payton’s gifts as a trumpet soloist have never been open to question, and now with this latest effort he establishes himself as a composer-arranger maestro on par with any working today.” –Wall Street Journal
“Warm, spacious and balanced, Payton’s balladry is hard to beat.” –Washington Post
“Simply and unfailingly sweet listening experience.” –Billboard
