Nicholas Payton has received a major grant to re-orchestrate and record his first symphonic work, The Black American Symphony, which he wrote 10 years ago.
The Grammy-winning trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist and composer received the grant from South Arts, a not-for-profit regional arts organization headquartered in Atlanta.
With the goal of reorganizing the project to reflect who he is today, Payton will record The Black American Symphony at Sear Sound recording studio in New York.
Payton is one of 20 jazz artists to receive a Jazz Road Creatives grant from South Arts this year. The program provides direct support for musicians with grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. These grants support self-defined residency activities that advance their artistry, creative exploration, community engagement, and lifework in jazz.
Find the full list of South Arts’ Jazz Road Creatives grant recipients here.