Payton is known for his “postmodern New Orleans music” and his work in Black American Music (#BAM). He has performed with many notable artists, including Allen Toussaint, Jimmy Smith, Ray Charles, and Herbie Hancock. 

Payton has released multiple albums, including From this Moment (1995), which earned him a Grammy nomination in 1997. He has also composed orchestral works, including The Black American Symphony, which he composed for the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. 

Payton is the chair of the Brass Department at Berklee College of Music. 

Payton is a social activist who has written and discussed the problematic associations of the term “jazz”. He coined the term #BAM to represent the breadth of improvisational music created by Black people in the U.S. 

Payton has also performed on the soundtrack of the movie Kansas City and appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. He heads his own record label, Paytone.