Nicholas Payton with Butcher Brown and Karl Denson

Born in New Orleans, Nicholas Payton is a celebrated trumpeter known for his vibrant post-bop jazz infused with genres like funk, R&B, and hip-hop. He gained recognition in the '90s, touring with Elvin Jones and Marcus Roberts. Payton won a Grammy for his 1997 collaboration with Doc Cheatham and coined the term “Black American Music.” His notable albums include Gumbo Nouveau, Sonic Trance, and Afro-Caribbean Mixtape. He has collaborated with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Joshua Redman and showcased at venues like New York's Smoke Jazz & Supper Club.

Butcher Brown, from Richmond, VA, creates "solar music" blending jazz, hip-hop, funk, and rock. They've toured with Kamasi Washington, played NPR's Tiny Desk, and are known for their album #KingButch, merging soul-jazz with boom-bap. Key members include Corey Fonville, DJ Harrison, Andrew Randazzo, Marcus "Tennishu" Tenney, and Morgan Burrs.

Born in 1988, Karl Denson, a jazz-funk and acid jazz saxophonist and flutist, is known for collaborations with Lenny Kravitz and founding the Greyboy Allstars. He leads Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, influenced by James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, gaining fame at the Newport Jazz Festival. Denson has recorded solo albums and arranged themed tribute concerts. He also collaborated with Slightly Stoopid.