
Nicholas Payton
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notes from the zen gangster
“notes from the zen gangster” is a 9 x 9″, 3lb meditation written by nicholas payton.
the book can be read front to back, back to front, and at random; each spread contains a conversation between two notes that also exist independently and within a free-flowing narrative.
at times provocative, profound and playful, the 366 notes invite the reader into payton’s mind and musings.
produced independently, first edition; thoughtfully designed in collaboration with book designer brittany markert and editor scout opatut.
#BAM
Drip
Nicholas Payton unveils a new album “Drip,” a new take on six previously recorded original compositions.
The idea for a sweet, slick reworking of the tracks came in 2021 when Payton found himself stuck in Atlanta after a show, his return to New Orleans stalled by Hurricane Ida. Making the most of his downtime and his location, Payton sought out a studio session with musicians who had the precision and soul to capture the energy of signature R&B classics pioneered there.
The result is a raw and soulful, but precise, execution of ideas, plied by masters of the format. Drummer and producer Lil’ John Roberts, a veteran of tours with artists including Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder, adds a polished, lilting funk throughout the album that particularly buoys “Big George” and “Gold Dust Black Magic,” songs that have been mainstays of Payton’s live sets in recent years.
Shows
SETS AT 8PM AND 9:30PM EST,
7PM AND 8:30PM CST,
5PM AND 6:30 PDT,
12AM AND 1:30 GMT