Cyrus Chestnut

Last updated
Cyrus Chestnut
Pianist Cyrus Chestnut on VOA.png
Background information
Born (1963-01-17) January 17, 1963 (age 61)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Jazz, blues
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1992–present
LabelsAlfa, Evidence, Atlantic, Warner Bros., Telarc, WJ3
Website www.cyruschestnut.net

Cyrus Chestnut (born January 17, 1963) 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." [1]

Contents

Early life

Cyrus Chestnut was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1963, the son of McDonald (a retired post-office employee and church pianist) and Flossie (a city social services worker and church choir director). [2] Chestnut began learning the piano at the age of seven, and in his boyhood played at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. [2] By the age of nine, [3] he was studying classical music at the Peabody Institute. [2] In 1985, Chestnut earned a degree in jazz composition and arranging from Boston's Berklee College of Music. [4]

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." [5] Chestnut's own "Mason–Dixon Line" is one of the album's high points, a joyful bebop number. [6]

Discography

As leader

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes
1992?The Nutman SpeaksAlfa Jazz
1992?The Nutman Speaks AgainAlfa Jazz
1992NutEvidence/Alfa JazzTrio, with Christian McBride (bass), Carl Allen (drums)
1993Another Direction Evidence Trio, with Christian McBride (bass), Carl Allen (drums)
1993Revelations Atlantic Trio, with Christopher J. Thomas (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)
1994Dark Before the DawnAtlanticTrio, with Steve Kirby (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)
1995Earth StoriesAtlanticWith Eddie Allen (trumpet), Antonio Hart (alto sax), Steve Kirby (bass), Alvester Garnett (drums)
1996Blessed QuietnessAtlanticSolo piano
1997American Meditation Baybridge Manhattan Trinity+1, with Antonio Hart (alto sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
1998Cyrus ChestnutAtlanticwith James Carter (alto sax), Joe Lovano (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), Billy Higgins, Lewis Nash (drums), Anita Baker (vocals)
1998Make Me a MemoryBaybridgeManhattan Trinity+1, with Teodross Avery (tenor, soprano sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
1998A Love Story M&I Manhattan Trinity+1, with Eric Alexander (tenor sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2000A Charlie Brown ChristmasAtlanticwith Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Kenny Garrett (alto sax), choir
2001Soul FoodAtlanticwith Marcus Printup (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Gary Bartz (alto sax), James Carter (tenor sax), Stefon Harris (vibraphone), Christian McBride (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2001Love Letters M&I Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2002You Are My Sunshine Warner Bros. Trio, with Michael Hawkins (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2002MistyM&IManhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2003AlfieM&IManhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2004CharadeM&IManhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2005Genuine Chestnut Telarc Some tracks trio, with Michael Hawkins (bass), Neal Smith (drums); some tracks quartet with Russell Malone (guitar) added; some tracks quartet with Steven Kroon (percussion) added; some tracks quintet
2006The Gentle RainM&IManhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2007Cyrus Plays ElvisKochTrio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2007Cyrus Chestnut Trio - Black NileM&ITrio, with Buster Williams (bass), Al Foster (drums)
2008Sunflower - Henry Mancini SongbookM&IManhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2008SpiritJazz LegacySolo piano
2010Cyrus Chestnut Trio - JourneysJazz LegacyTrio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2010The Cyrus Chestnut Quartet WJ3 Quartet, with Stacy Dillard (tenor and soprano saxophones), Dezron Douglas (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)
2011Cyrus Chestnut Trio - Moonlight Sonata Venus Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2013Soul Brother Cool WJ3 Quartet, with Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Dezron Douglas (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)
2014Midnight MelodiesSmoke SessionsTrio, with Curtis Lundy (bass), Victor Lewis (drums)
2014 A Million Colors in Your Mind Highnote Trio, with David Williams (bass), Victor Lewis (drums)
2015 Natural Essence HighnoteTrio, with Buster Williams (bass), Lenny White (drums)
2017 There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit HighnoteMost tracks trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Lenny White (drums); some tracks quartet, with Steve Nelson (vibraphone)
2018 Kaleidoscope HighnoteTrio, with Eric Wheeler (bass), Chris Beck (drums)
2022My Father's HandsHighnoteTrio, with Peter Washington (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)

As sideman

With Gerald Albright

With Carl Allen

With Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker

With Tiffany Austin

With Gary Bartz

With Kathleen Battle

With Alexander Berenson

With Dee Dee Bridgewater

With Jeri Brown

With Ronnie Burrage

With Ann Hampton Callaway

With Betty Carter

With James Carter

With Michael Carvin

With Freddy Cole

With Carla Cook

With Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet

With Dee Daniels

With Michael Dease

With Dr. John and the Donald Harrison Band

With Cynthia Felton

With The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band

With Jimmy Greene

With Mark Gross

With Roy Hargrove

With Donald Harrison

With Vincent Herring

With Laird Jackson

With Denise Jannah

With George Kawaguchi

With The Keystone Quartet

With Kevin Mahogany

With Wynton Marsalis

With Christian McBride

With Bette Midler

With Charnett Moffett

With George Mraz

With Roy Nathanson

With Chiara Pancaldi

With Madeleine Peyroux

With Morris Robinson

With Jackie Ryan

With Ameen Saleem

With Andy Scott

With Jimmy Scott

With Marilyn Scott

With Bud Shank

With Jae Sinnett

With Billy Taylor

With Joris Teepe and The Don Braden Quintet

With Tim Warfield

With Sadao Watanabe

With Kim Waters

With Rodney Whitaker

With Phil Wilson's Rainbow Band

With Steve Wilson

With Joh Yamada

With Dave Young

Compilations

YearTitleGenreLabelNotes
1994Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: The Fire of the FundamentalsJazzSonywith Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Betty Carter, Chris Thomas, Christian McBride, et al.
1999Essential Young Lions Vol. 1Jazz Hip-O with Roy Hargrove, Larry Goldings Trio, Stefon Harris, Donald Harrison, The Benny Green Trio, Stefon Harris, et al.
2000Piano Grand! A Smithsonian Celebrationclassical, jazz and rock & rollSonywith Diana Krall, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Dave Brubeck, Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis, Robert Levin, et al.
2003Torch: A Six Degrees Collection of Modern Torch SongsJazzSix Degreeswith Cassandra Wilson, Bugge Wesseltoft, Roy Nathanson, Sylk 130, Elvis Costello, dZihan & Kamien, Sarah Cracknell, et al.
2007Funky Jazz Party, Vol. 2: Love JamsJazzAtlanticwith Anita Baker, Steve Cole, Wayman Tisdale, Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, et al.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Bartz</span> American jazz saxophonist (born 1940)

Gary Bartz is an American jazz saxophonist. He has won two Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Higgins</span> American jazz drummer

Billy Higgins was an American jazz drummer. He played mainly free jazz and hard bop.

Carl Allen is an American jazz drummer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Garrett</span> American jazz musician and composer

Kenny Garrett is an American post-bop jazz musician and composer who gained recognition in his youth as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and for his time with Miles Davis's band. His primary instruments are alto and soprano saxophone and flute. Since 1985, he has pursued a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Carter (musician)</span> American jazz musician

James Carter is an American jazz musician widely recognized for his technical virtuosity on saxophones and a variety of woodwinds. He is the cousin of noted jazz violinist Regina Carter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Alexander (jazz saxophonist)</span> American jazz saxophonist (born 1968)

Eric Alexander is an American jazz saxophonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)</span> American jazz musician and composer

Chris Potter is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charnett Moffett</span> American jazz bassist (1967–2022)

Charnett Moffett was an American jazz bassist. A consummate and versatile bassist, and composer, he was an apparent child prodigy. Moffett began playing bass in the family band, touring the Far East in 1975 at the age of eight. In the mid-1980s, he played with Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Goldings</span> American musician, composer and arranger

Lawrence Sam "Larry" Goldings is an American jazz keyboardist and composer. His music has explored elements of funk, blues, and fusion. Goldings has a comedic alter ego known as Hans Groiner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gilmore</span> American jazz guitarist

David Gilmore is an American jazz guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Malone</span> American jazz guitarist

Russell Malone is an American jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988 and went on to work with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Mraz</span> Czech-born American jazz bassist (1944–2021)

George Mraz was a Czech-born American jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and worked with Pepper Adams, Stan Getz, Michel Petrucciani, Stephane Grappelli, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Raney, Chet Baker, Joe Henderson, John Abercrombie, John Scofield, and Richie Beirach, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Smulyan</span> American jazz baritone saxophonist

Gary Smulyan is a jazz musician who plays baritone saxophone. He studied at Hofstra University before working with Woody Herman. He leads a trio with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick Corea discography</span> American pianist and composer

Chick Corea (1941–2021) was an American jazz pianist and composer born on June 12, 1941, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Corea started learning piano at age four. He recorded his first album, Tones for Joan's Bones, in 1966. Corea performed with Blue Mitchell, Willie Bobo, Cal Tjader and Herbie Mann in the mid-1960s. In the late 1960s he performed with Stan Getz and Miles Davis. The National Endowment for the Arts states, "He ranked with Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett as one of the leading piano stylists to emerge after Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner, and he composed such notable jazz standards as 'Spain', 'La Fiesta', and 'Windows'."

Victor Lewis is an American jazz drummer, composer, and educator.

Hiram Winard Harper is an American jazz drummer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Bernstein (guitarist)</span> American jazz guitarist

Peter Andrew Bernstein is an American jazz guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Wilson (jazz musician)</span> American jazz multi-instrumentalist (born 1961)

Steve Wilson is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, who is best known in the musical community as a flutist and an alto and soprano saxophonist. He also plays the clarinet and the piccolo. Wilson performs on many different instruments and has performed and recorded on over twenty-five albums. His interests include folk, jazz, classical, world music, and experimental music. Wilson is currently on the faculty of New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. He was elected as an American Champion by the National Flute Association. Wilson has maintained a busy career working as a session musician, and has contributed to many musicians of note both in the recording studios, but as a sideman on tours. Over the years he has participated in engagements with several musical ensembles, as well as his own solo efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Washington</span> American jazz double bassist

Peter Washington is a jazz double bassist. He played with the Westchester Community Symphony at the age of 14. Later he played electric bass in rock bands. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he majored in English Literature, and performed with the San Francisco Youth Symphony and the UC Symphony Orchestra. His growing interest in jazz led him to play with John Handy, Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land, Frank Morgan, Ernestine Anderson, Chris Connor and other Bay Area luminaries. In 1986 he joined Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers and moved to New York City. Beginning in the 1990s, he toured with the Tommy Flanagan trio until Flanagan's death in 2001, and has played with the Bill Charlap trio since 1997. He was a founding member of the collective hard bop sextet One for All and is a visiting artist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David "Happy" Williams</span> Trinidadian jazz double-bassist (born 1946)

David "Happy" Williams, is a US-based Trinidadian jazz double-bassist, who was a long-time member of Cedar Walton's group. Williams has also worked with many other notable musicians, including Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson, Stan Getz, Kenny Barron, Duke Jordan, Monty Alexander, Frank Morgan, Hank Jones, Charles McPherson, Larry Willis, George Cables, Abdullah Ibrahim, David "Fathead" Newman, Sonny Fortune, John Hicks, Louis Hayes, Jackie McLean, Clifford Jordan, Abbey Lincoln, Ernestine Anderson, and Kathleen Battle.

References

  1. Tyrangiel, Josh (March 19, 2006). "Music: 5 Great New Albums". Time.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Leonard Feather, Ira Gitler (April 1, 2007). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-988640-1.
  3. "Biography", Cyrus Chestnut website.
  4. Prominent Berklee Alumni at the Wayback Machine (archived August 21, 2007)
  5. "Concord Music Group". Telarc.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  6. "Genuine Chestnut by Cyrus Chestnut". Artistdirect.com. February 28, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2015.