Cyrus Chestnut Trio at Duc des Lombards

by Patricia Myers
August 14, 2016

Cyrus Chestnut Trio Duc des Lombards Nous N'Irons Pas a New York Festival Paris, France August 2, 2016 Pianist Cyrus Chestnut dazzled a rapt audience during the opening concert of his two nights at the sixth annual Nous N'Irons Pas a New York (We're Not Going to New York) festival that presents American stars. From the first to the final note, he was a man of few words and of much melodic magic.

Cyrus Chestnut Trio + Stefon Harris: Tempe, AZ, May 31, 2013

by Patricia Myers
June 12, 2013

Cyrus Chestnut Trio and Stefon HarrisTempe Center for the ArtsTempe, AZMay 31, 2013Pianist Cyrus Chestnut has perfected the art of musical surprise, creating dialogues between his own hands as well as with his colleagues. He launched his Tempe, Arizona concert by stating, “We like to play the notes we've never played before." He most assuredly did that for a full two hours, supported by bassist Eric Wheeler and 19-year-old drummer Evan Sherman, soon joined by ...

Cyrus Chestnut: Spirit

by AAJ Italy Staff
March 11, 2011

La forza della religiosit�� afroamericana ha sempre fatto parte dell'estetica di Cyrus Chestnut, ma in questo nuovo capitolo per solo pianoforte, l'omaggio si fa quantomai esplicito. E' una ricerca delle radici, mai dimenticate, nella musica sacra della chiesa nera, il cui apporto alla definizione espressiva del jazz �� centrale. Chestnut percorre un repertorio che combina classici del gospel a scelte molto originali, fra le quali segnaliamo Bridge Over Troubled Water di Simon e Garfunkel e Come Sunday di Ellintgon. Il ...

Cyrus Chestnut Trio: Journeys

by Larry Taylor
December 30, 2010

During a career spanning 20 years, Cyrus Chestnut has risen to be one of the most esteemed and productive of jazz pianists. Journeys makes 16 recordings under his name. He regularly performs with his trio and is the go-to guy on numerous recording dates and gigs. Having apprenticed with the incomparable vocalist Betty Carter, Chestnut's playing displays a style and technical virtuosity that has him compared to jazz legends from Jelly Roll Morton and Oscar Peterson to ...

Jackie Ryan: Doozy

by Larry Taylor
November 4, 2009

This two-CD set is vocalist Jackie Ryan's third recording and it's definitely a keeper. On the heels of her 2007 success, You And The Night And The Music (Open Art Productions), which landed on the charts, also appears destined for success.

With her clear, rich voice, Ryan undoubtedly has one of jazz's great vocal instruments--no low-note warble or reedy high notes for her and with a 3-1/2 octave range, she handles each song with aplomb. In addition, she has a ...

Cyrus Chestnut: Spirit

by Larry Taylor
October 12, 2009

Cyrus Chestnut was born into the church; his father was a church organist and his mother directed the choir. On this artist's fine solo piano CD, Spirit, he returns to his roots with a selection of gospel songs augmented by a couple of inspirational popular songs from the 1970s. They are played with church-like fervor and a jazz sensibility, and make for a thoroughly enjoyable, uplifting experience.

The first track, “Oh How I Love Jesus," captures the believer's steadfast dedication, ...

Cyrus Chesnut: Expounding on Elvis

by R.J. DeLuke
February 11, 2008

When the bespectacled man with the boyish round face sits down at the grand piano to play these days, listeners can still expect to hear the rich tone, jazz inflected with not only the influences of Fats Waller or McCoy Tyner, but also with a soulful element that comes from church roots. But some of the tunes that float through the room may harken back to another part of the listener's past. The music is jazz, but the familiar memories ...