Trumpeter Nicholas Payton is best known as one of the most famous sons of New Orleans' young generation of jazz players. With 'Bitches' he presents an elaborate concept work that sees him move away from straightahead jazz and toward a modern Soul sound with 70's and 80's flavours. Very much an album of today, he's joined by guest vocalists including Esperanza Spalding and Cassandra Wilson. <p>Equally surprising, perhaps, is that with the exception of the five featured vocalists (four female and one male) Payton recorded this CD entirely solo, both singing and playing trumpet, together with keyboards, bass, synthesizers and drum machines. Also on board as co-producer is innovative producer/musician Mark de Clive-Lowe, best known for his broken beat/soul releases on labels such as Strictly Rhythm, Masters at Work Records, Antipodean and Honest Jon's, and for his collaborations with Jody Watley, Omar, Sheila E, Leon Ware and others.</p> <p>With its programmed layers and complex breakbeats Payton has created music with an overt urban feel on one hand but with an organic kind of sound on the other. Featuring wonderfully inspired trumpet solos, soulful vocals and sonic landscapes reminiscent of D'Angelo, this is Payton's most genre defying and ambitious work yet.</p>