From Amazon.co.uk
As its title suggests,
Dear Louis is a love letter to the sound of Satchmo. New Orleans trumpeter Payton adopts a slightly off-kilter approach. First, he opts for an 11-piece that punches straight towards a big band noise, then he infuses several selections with a variety of South American rhythms, ably embellished by percussionist Kenyatta Simon. Payton also has Wes Montgomery's soulful old organist Melvin Rhyne on board, and contributes some Fender Rhodes tinklings himself. To top all of these off, the leader/producer/arranger unveils his own vocal stylings, and invites some more experienced guest singers along (the mellow-noodling Dianne Reeves and the ubiquitous, loose-drawling Dr. John). Unlike his mentor Wynton Marsalis, Payton takes these old Armstrong chestnuts to different places. "Potato Head Blues" is given a timeless treatment, co-opting swing, bebop and mainstream traces, while Payton's tackling of "Hello, Dolly" is courageously unfashionable, to say the least. No one normally bothers to cover this contentious hit, but Payton breathes in a fresh sound, Afro-Brazilian percussion gently pattering beside the main theme's tuba-huffing and flute caresses. The whole album is stuffed with trumpet solos, many of the best involving dirty, muted insinuations, but Payton generally avoids turning this into a lone-horn spectacle, his massed brass and reed banks constantly active. Even on the vocal front, Payton keeps his delivery quite clear and smooth, avoiding any mimicry of that unique Satchel Mouth growl.
--Martin Longley