Cyrus Chestnut

Cyrus Chestnut
Background information
Born	(1963-01-17) January 17, 1963 (age 62) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, producer
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Alfa, 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]

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 recorded	Title	Label	Notes
1992?	The Nutman Speaks	Alfa Jazz
1992?	The Nutman Speaks Again	Alfa Jazz
1992	Nut	Evidence/Alfa Jazz	Trio, with Christian McBride (bass), Carl Allen (drums)
1993	Another Direction	Evidence	Trio, with Christian McBride (bass), Carl Allen (drums)
1993	Revelations	Atlantic	Trio, with Christopher J. Thomas (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)
1994	Dark Before the Dawn	Atlantic	Trio, with Steve Kirby (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)
1995	Earth Stories	Atlantic	With Eddie Allen (trumpet), Antonio Hart (alto sax), Steve Kirby (bass), Alvester Garnett (drums)
1996	Blessed Quietness	Atlantic	Solo piano
1997	American Meditation	Baybridge	Manhattan Trinity+1, with Antonio Hart (alto sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
1998	Cyrus Chestnut	Atlantic	with James Carter (alto sax), Joe Lovano (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), Billy Higgins, Lewis Nash (drums), Anita Baker (vocals)
1998	Make Me a Memory	Baybridge	Manhattan Trinity+1, with Teodross Avery (tenor, soprano sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
1998	A Love Story	M&I	Manhattan Trinity+1, with Eric Alexander (tenor sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2000	A Charlie Brown Christmas	Atlantic	with Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Kenny Garrett (alto sax), choir
2001	Soul Food	Atlantic	with Marcus Printup (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Gary Bartz (alto sax), James Carter (tenor sax), Stefon Harris (vibraphone), Christian McBride (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2001	Love Letters	M&I	Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2002	You Are My Sunshine	Warner Bros.	Trio, with Michael Hawkins (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2002	Misty	M&I	Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2003	Alfie	M&I	Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2004	Charade	M&I	Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2005	Genuine 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
2006	The Gentle Rain	M&I	Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2007	Cyrus Plays Elvis	Koch	Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2007	Cyrus Chestnut Trio - Black Nile	M&I	Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Al Foster (drums)
2008	Sunflower - Henry Mancini Songbook	M&I	Manhattan Trinity, with George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)
2008	Spirit	Jazz Legacy	Solo piano
2010	Cyrus Chestnut Trio - Journeys	Jazz Legacy	Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2010	The Cyrus Chestnut Quartet	WJ3	Quartet, with Stacy Dillard (tenor and soprano saxophones), Dezron Douglas (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)
2011	Cyrus Chestnut Trio - Moonlight Sonata	Venus	Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2013	Soul Brother Cool	WJ3	Quartet, with Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Dezron Douglas (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)
2014	Midnight Melodies	Smoke Sessions	Trio, 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	Highnote	Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Lenny White (drums)
2017	There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit	Highnote	Most tracks trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Lenny White (drums); some tracks quartet, with Steve Nelson (vibraphone)
2018	Kaleidoscope	Highnote	Trio, with Eric Wheeler (bass), Chris Beck (drums)
2022	My Father's Hands	Highnote	Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)

As sideman

With Gerald Albright

• Giving Myself to You (Atlantic, 1995)

With Carl Allen

• Testimonial (Atlantic, 1995)

With Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker

• Get Ready (Mack Avenue, 2009)

With Tiffany Austin

• Unbroken (Con Alma, 2018)

With Gary Bartz

• The Blues Chronicles: Tales of Life (Atlantic, 1996)

With Kathleen Battle

• So Many Stars (Sony, 1995)

With Alexander Berenson

• Take Me With You (Butman Music, 2010)

With Dee Dee Bridgewater

• Prelude to a Kiss: The Duke Ellington Album (Phillips, 1996)

With Jeri Brown

• Fresh Start (Justin Time, 1996)

With Ronnie Burrage

• Shuttle (Sound Hills, 1993)

With Ann Hampton Callaway

• To Ella with Love (Sin-Drome Records, 1996)

With Betty Carter

• It's Not About the Melody (Verve, 1992)
• The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine, 2019)

With James Carter

• In Carterian Fashion (Atlantic, 1998)
• Gold Sounds (Brown Brothers, 2005)

With Michael Carvin

• Between Me and You (Muse, 1989)
• Revelation (Muse, 1991)

With Freddy Cole

• Always (Fantasy, 1995)
• A Circle of Love (Fantasy, 1996)
• To The Ends of the Earth (Fantasy, 1997)
• Le Grand Freddy (Fantasy, 1999)

With Carla Cook

• It's All About Love (MaxJazz, 1999)
• Dem Bones (MaxJazz, 2001)
• Simply Natural (MaxJazz, 2002)

With Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet

• The Juliet Letters (Warner Bros., 1993)

With Dee Daniels

• State of the Art (Criss Cross, 2013)
• Intimate Conversations (Origin, 2014)

With Michael Dease

• Grace (Jazz Legacy, 2010)

With Dr. John and the Donald Harrison Band

• Funky New Orleans (Metro, 2000)

With Cynthia Felton

• Afro Blue: The Music of Oscar Brown Jr. (CD Baby, 2012)
• Freedom Jazz Dance (CD Baby, 2012)
• Save Your Love For Me (CD Baby, 2014)

With The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band

• I'm BeBoppin' Too (Half Note, 2009)

With Jimmy Greene

• Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue, 2014)

With Mark Gross

• Blackside (Jazz Legacy, 2012)

With Roy Hargrove

• With the Tenors of Our Time (Verve, 1994)

With Donald Harrison

• Full Circle (Sweet Basil, 1990)
• For Art's Sake (Candid, 1991)
• Indian Blues (Candid, 1995)
• Big Chief (Past Perfect, 2002)

With Vincent Herring

• Folklore: Live at the Village Vanguard (MusicMasters, 1994)
• Don't Let It Go (MusicMasters, 1995)
• Days of Wine and Roses (MusicMasters, 1996)
• The Uptown Shuffle (Smoke Session, 2014)
• Hard Times (Smoke Sessions, 2017)

With Laird Jackson

• Quiet Flame (Venus, 2016)

With Denise Jannah

• I Was Born In Love With You (Blue Note, 1995)
• A Heart Full of Music (Timeless, 2000)

With George Kawaguchi

• Between Me and You (Muse, 1989)
• Revelation (Muse, 1991)
• Plays Herbie Hancock (King Japan, 2004)

With The Keystone Quartet

• A Love Story (32 Jazz, 2000)

With Kevin Mahogany

• Another Time Another Place (Warner Bros., 1997)

With Wynton Marsalis

• The Marciac Suite (Columbia, 2000)
• Higher Ground (Blue Note, 2005)

With Christian McBride

• Gettin' to It (Verve, 1995)

With Bette Midler

• Bathhouse Betty (Warner Bros., 1998)

With Charnett Moffett

• Music from Our Soul (Motéma Music, 2017)

With George Mraz

• Bottom Lines (Milestone, 1997)
• Duke's Place (Milestone, 1999)

With Roy Nathanson

• Fire at Keaton's Bar & Grill (Six Degrees, 2000)

With Chiara Pancaldi

• I Walk a Little Faster (Challenge Records, 2015)

With Madeleine Peyroux

• Dreamland (Atlantic, 1996)

With Morris Robinson

• Going Home (Decca, 2007)

With Jackie Ryan

• Doozy (Open Arts, 2008)

With Ameen Saleem

• The Groove Lab (Jando Music, 2013)

With Andy Scott

• Angels (Jazz Legacy, 2015)

With Jimmy Scott

• Mood Indigo (Milestone, 2000)
• Moon Glow (Milestone, 2003)

With Marilyn Scott

• Every Time We Say Goodbye (Venus, 2008)

With Bud Shank

• By Request: Bud Shank Meets the Rhythm Section (Milestone, 1997)

With Jae Sinnett

• Blue Jae (Valley Vue, 1992)
• House and Sinnett (Positive Music, 1994)
• Listen (Heart Music, 1997)

With Billy Taylor

• Taylor Made at the Kennedy Center (Kennedy Center, 2005)

With Joris Teepe and The Don Braden Quintet

• Pay As You Earn (Mons, 1995)

With Tim Warfield

• Cool Blue (Criss Cross, 1995)
• A Whisper in the Midnight (Criss Cross, 1996)
• Gentle Warrior (Criss Cross, 1998)
• Jazz Is (Criss Cross, 2002)
• Eye of the Beholder (Criss Cross, 2013)

With Sadao Watanabe

• Remembrance (Verve, 1999)

With Kim Waters

• Tribute (Warlock, 1992)

With Rodney Whitaker

• Children of the Light (Koch, 1996)

With Phil Wilson's Rainbow Band

• Latin American Tour (Shiah, 1985)

With Steve Wilson

• Step Lively (Criss Cross, 1995)

With Joh Yamada

• Bluestone (Milestone, 1999)

With Dave Young

• Two by Two, Volume Two (Justin Time, 1996)
• Side by Side (Justin Time, 1996)

Compilations

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

References

1. Tyrangiel, Josh (March 19, 2006). "Music: 5 Great New Albums". Time. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
2. 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. [1]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.

External links

• Cyrus Chestnut official website
• Hip online interview
• Jazz Police review
• Interview with and performance by Cyrus Chestnut at NPR.org
• Cyrus Chestnut, pianist, bandleader Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine