Cyrus Chestnut: Genuine Chestnut (2006)

Joel Roberts

CD/DVD Reviewer since 1999

Joel Roberts has been contirbuting to AAJ since its earliest days.

Recent articles (244 total)

Published: March 12, 2006

Cyrus Chestnut has always brought a palpable sense of joy to his music-making. Since gaining notoriety with the young lions of the '80s, his gospel-rooted approach has earned him a reputation as one of the most reliably versatile pianists on the mainstream scene.

Genuine Chestnut is a mixed bag, though. While there's plenty of fine playing here from the 42-year-old leader and his trio, along with guests Steve Kroon (percussion) and Russell Malone (guitar), the music only occasionally transcends the merely well-played. Only a few of Chestnut's originals—the bebop workout "Mason Dixon Line, the ballad/bossa nova hybrid "Ellen's Song," and the insistent groove of "Baby Girl's Strut —make a lasting impression.

The cover choices, too, leave something to be desired. Chestnut has often successfully merged jazz with pop and R&B influences, but not even his sparkling piano or Malone's inventive guitar licks can make memorable jazz out of Bread's sappy '70s soft-rock hit "If or Roberta Flack's tedious "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. More enjoyable are a trio of inspirational numbers that close the album, especially a moving solo piano take on the traditional hymn "Lord I Give Myself to You.

Track Listing: The Brown Soldier; El Numero Tres; If; Ellen's Song; Mason Dixon Line; Baby Girl's Strut; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; Eyes on the Prize; Through the Valley; I'm Walkin'; Lord I Give Myself to You.

Personnel: Cyrus Chestnut: piano; Michael Hawkins: bass; Neal Smith: drums; Steve Kroon: percussion; Russell Malone: guitar.

Record Label: Telarc Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream

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Date	Venue	Tickets
May31	Tempe Center for the Arts Tempe, AZ	buy
Jun14	Scullers Jazz Club Boston, MA	buy
Jun28	Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Rochester, NY
Jun28	Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Rochester, NY
Jul24	Théâtre De Verdure De La Germanette Serres, France	buy