Cyrus Chestnut | Artist

Cyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, composer and producer born 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time magazine, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space". 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. Chestnut's regular working trio comprises Chestnut on piano, Michael Hawkins on bass and Neal Smith on drums. He also plays piano in the all-star Kansas City Band. As a recording artist, Chestnut to-date has released 18 studio albums, with styles spanning jazz, spirituals, and Christmas music. Standout albums include Earth Stories (1996), Cyrus Chestnut (1998), There's a Sweet Sweet Spirit (2017) and My Father's Hands (2022).

Artist Website: wikipedia/Cyrus_Chestnut

Featured Albums: Cyrus Chestnut

Related Artists: Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Kansas City Band

Video Clips: It Could Happen to You, Lichfield Jazz Festival, I Cover the Waterfront