Cyrus Chestnut


Cyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, composer and producer. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space."
WWW CyrusChestnut.com

Early life

Cyrus Chestnut was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1963, the son of McDonald and Flossie. Chestnut began learning the piano at the age of seven, and in his boyhood played at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. By the age of nine, he was studying classical music at the Peabody Institute. In 1985, Chestnut earned a degree in jazz composition and arranging from Boston's Berklee College of Music.

Jazz career

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Chestnut worked with Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, and other bandleaders. He joined the band of jazz vocalist Betty Carter in the early 1990s and appeared on her 1992 album It's Not About the Melody. That same year, he recorded his first albums as a bandleader, The Nutman Speaks and Nut. Chesnut has continued to work and record as a bandleader into the 21st century.
In 2006, Telarc released Genuine Chestnut, his first album for the label. On it he is accompanied by his regular trio of Michael Hawkins, bass and Neal Smith, drums. Additional artists on this session include Russell Malone, guitar and Steven Kroon, percussion. It includes jazz interpretations of some well-known pop numbers of the past half-century, including "If", the early 1970s soft-rock ballad by Bread. "This song has been with me ever since the sixth grade," Chestnut recalled, "I had to play it for my English teacher's wedding. I've played it in many and various contexts. I actually played it in a Top 40 band when I was just out of school. A lot of time has passed, but then recently I just started thinking about it again." Chestnut's own "Mason–Dixon Line" is one of the album's high points, a joyful bebop number.

Discography

As sideman

With Betty CarterIt's Not About the Melody The Music Never Stops
With James CarterIn Carterian Fashion Gold Sounds
With Michael CarvinBetween Me and You Revelation
With Freddy ColeAlways A Circle of Love To The Ends of the Earth Le Grand Freddy
With Carla CookIt's All About Love Dem Bones Simply Natural
With Elvis Costello and the Brodsky QuartetThe Juliet Letters
With Dee DanielsState of the Art Intimate Conversations
With Cynthia FeltonAfro Blue: The Music of Oscar Brown Jr. Freedom Jazz Dance Save Your Love For Me
With Donald HarrisonFull Circle For Art's Sake Indian Blues Big Chief
With Vincent HerringFolklore: Live at the Village Vanguard Don't Let It Go Days of Wine and Roses The Uptown Shuffle Hard Times
With Denise JannahI Was Born In Love With You A Heart Full of Music
With George KawaguchiBetween Me and You Revelation Plays Herbie Hancock
With Wynton MarsalisThe Marciac Suite Higher Ground
With George MrazBottom Lines Duke's Place
With Jimmy ScottMood Indigo Moon Glow
With Jae SinnettBlue Jae House and Sinnett Listen
With Tim WarfieldCool Blue A Whisper in the Midnight Gentle Warrior Jazz Is Eye of the Beholder
With Dave YoungTwo by Two, Volume Two Side by Side
With others