Dr. Nick Payne is an American jazz pianist, educator, arranger, and composer. His wide-ranging creative work and research have enabled him to travel to 25 countries worldwide, performing and teaching jazz. During his doctoral studies at The University of Texas at Dallas, Payne’s research focused on jazz studies, musical interaction, African American studies, global traditions of improvisation, as well as the music and culture of the Iberian peninsula and Brazil. Payne holds a PhD in Humanities from The University of Texas at Dallas, a master’s degree in jazz composition from the University of North Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in jazz piano performance from Loyola University New Orleans. His most recent publication is titled “The Musicality of Birds: From Charles Darwin to Hermeto Pascoal,” and it was published in Volume 4 of Jazz Education in Research and Practice.