Cyrus Chestnut Trio

Cyrus Chestnut (1963) is a jazz cat par excellence. The cradle of this American pianist was in Baltimore, where he started his musical career in church when he was six years old – like so many others. In 1985, Chestnut obtained a degree in jazz composition and arranging from the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston.

He then began working as a sideman with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Michael Carvin, Donald Harrison & Terence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Branford Marsalis, Lauryn Hill, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie and vocalist Betty Carter. His collaboration with Carter influenced his approach to music and style. Carter advised him to “take risks” and “play things I’d never heard before,” Chestnut said.

While Chestnut was gaining experience as a sideman, he was also developing as a leader. There's a Brighter Day Comin was his first self-released album. In 1993, he signed with Atlantic Records, where he released the critically acclaimed Revelation (1994) and many more albums would follow. In 2001, he released Soul Food with bassist Christian McBride, drummer Lewis Nash and special guest soloists James Carter, Stefon Harris, Wycliffe Gordon and Marcus Printup. This critically acclaimed album was included on Down Beat's list of the best records of 2002.

Chestnut plays live with his trio all over the world. Their jazz is influenced by gospel and blues. As Chestnut himself describes it: “I try to capture the spirit of freedom and fun in my music and take it to as many places as possible. Jazz is based on freedom, where you can think, say or play whatever you want. This trio wants to swing and make people feel good.” "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space."