The young trumpeter
Nicholas Payton is featured on this CD as the only horn in a sextet also including guitarist
Mark Whitfield, pianist
Mulgrew Miller and vibraphonist
Monte Croft. Best are
Payton's melodic and very mature statements on the veteran standards "You Stepped Out of a Dream," "It Could Happen to You," "From This Moment On" and "Taking a Chance on Love." His six originals are less memorable, but overall, this is a pleasing date that finds the trumpeter showing a great deal of potential.
Payton's tone, mixing aspects of
Freddie Hubbard,
Wynton Marsalis and New Orleans jazz in a post-bop setting, is quite appealing. ~ Scott Yanow