On May 23rd, Multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton published Notes From The Zen Gangster, a 366-page book on meditation.
The companion music release of the same name is a collection of 7 originals, where Payton forgoes storytelling for world-building, with the intention of a transcendental visual experience. Bass, drum, and keyboard lines lay a foundation for his exploratory trumpet work, with additional vocals on some tracks from Sasha Masakowski, a frequent collaborator. It's a futuristic soundscape, with Payton citing Donna Summer as an inspiration for "If You Love, Love Openly", and Steve Reich's exercise in minimalism, "Music For 18 Musicians".
Hear a track from Nicholas Payton's latest exploration each weekday morning at 8:20 AM.
