About ten years ago, Cyrus Chestnut produced three trio CDs for Atlantic that solidified his already glowing - and growing - reputation: Revelation (1994), The Dark Before the Dawn (1995) and Earth Stories (1996). I think these CDs rank with the best trio work of recent times; they stand with the long-established groups of Brad Mehldau and Keith Jarrett as well as the best new trios of our time, Fred Hersch and Bill Charlap, for example. Styles differ greatly, of course, but in terms of musical enjoyment - of "yield to the listener," you will have a hard time doing better than Mr. Chestnut's work on these three excellent disks.

"From early on, I was exposed to what the church is all about and the music that brings its message to life." "Early on" was Baltimore and the first church was Baltimore's First Calvary Star Baptist Church, in which he made his first public performance - at the age of seven! He remains greatly influenced by the church, and hymns and gospel-influenced tunes are always part of his work. Indeed, he has a solo CD devoted entirely to such music: Blessed Quietness (1996). The church is a strong influence, but by no means the only one. His work also features classical themes, and of course he has absorbed what the great bop and post-bop pianists had to say. He has combined those many influences to produce his own readily identifiable style and sound. His background influences are disparate, but you always can hear it is Cyrus playing, be the tune "Sweet Hour of Prayer," "Baroque Impressions," or "Grandma's Blues."

Mr. Chestnut also has, I think, a special affinity for waltzes. There are several on the three CDs mentioned earlier. They often begin, as for example, does "Sentimentalia," the opening tune on The Dark Before the Dawn, as exquisitely pretty, almost fey tunes. But soon you are somewhere else entirely. Half way through "Sentimentalia" the atmosphere is hardly sentimental - one is almost rocking and rolling! Then back we go to the original aesthetical atmosphere, and out. There is another example on this same CD: the middle section of "Baroque Impressions," in which Bach's Invention in D Minor, suddenly drops into 3/4 time.

Mr. Chestnut studied at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, then at Berklee, in Boston, graduating in 1985, and receiving many fellowships and awards. But he also studied at another great jazz university - the Betty Carter Trio, in which he played for two years, starting in 1991. It is simply amazing how great an influence two groups - The Betty Carter Trio and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers have had on modern music.

Cyrus Chestnut.."has a ton going for him: an authoritative, resonant touch, a supple sense of swing,a bluesy swagger, compelling lyricism and more."

Los Angeles Times

Of course, he works in larger groups and as a soloist. A wonderful example of his work as a group leader can be found in Soul Food (2001), in which he appears with a more-than-all-star cast - Stefon Harris (vib), Gary Bartz (as); James Carter (ts), Marcus Printup (tp) Wycliffe Gordon (tr), Christian McBride (b), and the great Lewis Nash (d). If you get this one, listen especially to Nash, who at a still young age is, I would say, spiritual father to all the new - "permanent solo style" drummers of today, Billy Kilson and Nasheet Waits, for example. Nash made their work possible, I think, and is playing just great today. If you can sit still - or even sit down - through Soul Food, there is something seriously wrong.

I don't have any solo CDs by Mr. Chestnut, other then Blessed Quietness, but there are solo tracks on some of the CDs mentioned before ("Baroque Impressions," for example), and I have heard him solo in person. Just a bit more than a year ago, at Lincoln Center's Kaplan Penthouse, he played a spectacular solo set that was typically inclusive. He began with the venerable "Stompin' at the Savoy," which was followed by an improvisation on a baroque work, a spiritual, and a great, and highly emotional version of Tom McIntosh's "Cup Bearers," a tune strongly associated with the late Tommy Flanagan. It was a wonderful set.

Here are details of the CDs mentioned above - there are many others.

Revelation, Atlantic 82518-2, Chestnut (p), Christopher Thomas (b), Clarence Penn (d) - Penn is another Betty Carter alumnus, by the way.

The Dark Before the Dawn, Atlantic 82719-2, Chestnut, Penn, Steve Kirby (b).

Earth Stories, Atlantic 82876-2, Chestnut, Penn, Alvester Garnett (d).

Blessed Quietness, Atlantic 82948.

Soul Food, Atlantic 83490, Personnel listed above.

Also, and related:

Cyrus Chestnut, Atlantic 83140-2, A collection of groups including Ron Carter (b), Billy Higgins (d), Lewis Nash (d), James Carter (as), Joe Lovano (ts) and Anita Baker (voc).

Confirmation, Enja, 40142, Tommy Flanagan (p), George Mraz (b), Elvin Jones (d) - has "Cup Bearers" on it.