Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Cyrus Chestnut: Spirit

442

Cyrus Chestnut: Spirit

By

Sign in to view read count
Cyrus Chestnut: Spirit
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, while "Lift Every Voice and Sing" projects a pure, worshipful love. With "Blessed Assurance," Chestnut brings forth the rapture of the saved before transcending to a funky finish. The cut given most thorough jazz treatment, "Wade in the Water," finds Chestnut pounding the keys in post bop glee. Another real highlight is "I Surrender All"; here he lays a marching rhythm on top of some lowdown blues proceeding to a triumphal climax.

The two seventies hits, Bill Withers' "Lean on Me" and Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," both have a built-in spiritual quality, which Chestnut sensitively underlines. He has some fun, though, baring his improvisational chops on the fervid "Gospel Improv #1," utilizing a florid, Art Tatum-like technique. Also, Duke Ellington Center Big Band's "Come Sunday" is absolutely stunning. The long, stately introduction gives way to a stride chorus the Duke wrote, with some real come-to-church music here.

The whole Spirit CD, if not a religious experience, can certainly be transcendent.

Track Listing

Oh, How I Love Jesus; Lift Every Voice and Sing; Blessed Assurance; Wade in the Water; Lean on Me; I Surrender All; Gospel Improv #1; Old Time Religion; Bridge Over Troubled Water; Come Sunday; All by All; All Creatures of Our God and King; Peace; The Lord's Prayer.

Personnel

Cyrus Chestnut: piano.

Album information

Title: Spirit | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Jazz Legacy Productions

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.