Visit this artist's website: http://www.nicholaspayton.com/

Born to a musical family and mentored by the renowned jazz masters Ellis Marsalis and Clyde Kerr Jr., the 35-year-old New Orleans trumpeter, bandleader, and recording artist earned his stripes in the 1990s working alongside such jazz stalwarts as Clark Terry, Ray Brown, Doc Cheatham, Elvin Jones, and Roy Haynes. Also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist (piano, bass, saxophone, trombone, tuba, clarinet, and drums), NICHOLAS PAYTON made his recording debut as a leader in 1994, and quickly emerged as one of the major trumpeters of his generation. He made his Hollywood Bowl debut in 1995 as part of the “Young Lions” program, and has since appeared here frequently, including in 1997, when he won a Grammy for his recording with Doc Cheatham. His latest recording, his ninth, is the 2008 Nonesuch album Into the Blue.