BIOGRAPHY FOR CYRUS CHESTNUT
Cyrus Chestnut is a musical force that utilizes his classical, spiritual, and jazz influences to entertain and capture his audiences. As one of the world’s most respected pianists, Cyrus has been lauded by various jazz publications and featured in the New York Times for his unique musical style. A noted bandleader and music director, Cyrus has played at the world’s premier venues and festivals, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz Fest.
An alumnus of the nation’s top music institutions, including Peabody Preparatory and The Walden School, Cyrus’ music showcases his discipline and respect for his early training and its influence on his sound today. Following his studies at Peabody and the Walden School, Chestnut excelled as a student at the Berklee College of Music, where he received the Oscar Peterson Award, Count Basie Award, and Quincy Jones Award for his exceptional skill and dedication to his craft. While attending Berklee, he studied jazz composition and arranging and before graduating, he played with a host of legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, and Tommy Flanagan. After graduating from the Berklee College of Music, Chestnut continued to acquire additional music training and acclaim as he played with jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks from 1986-88, trumpeter Terrence Blanchard and saxophonist Donald Harrison from 1988-90, and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis in 1991.
As a bandleader, Cyrus Chestnut’s repertoire is vast and his work has been featured in films such as Kansas City and Piano Grand: A Smithsonian Celebration. After his first recording as a bandleader in 1989, Chestnut expanded his repertoire as a performer and music director by working with artists from various genres. With more than a dozen studio albums in his discography, Cyrus continues to experiment with his familiar integration of jazz, spiritual and classical sounds that reflect his heritage and identity as an artist. By blending his experiences as a church music director with his academic training, Chestnut navigates the fluid genre boundaries successfully. This expert “balancing act” was brilliantly displayed in his work as music director with the legendary Kathleen Battle on “So Many Stars” and “Underground Railroad,” and in his current, 2014 studio release entitled Midnight Melodies.
From prodigy to bandleader to educator and mentor, Chestnut has traversed the musical landscape and left an indelible imprint, like many of the legends that he has collaborated with over the decades. Legends such as Betty Carter, Jon Hendricks and Wynton Marsalis have all influenced and mentored Cyrus throughout the years. Recently appointed to the faculty at the prestigious Howard University Department of Music, Chestnut continues to honor the legacy of mentorship by offering lectures on jazz piano and improvisation to the next generation of musical artists. This appointment serves as a continuum from his past work at music camps, public schools and universities and allows him to share his profound knowledge with others. Devoted to education and community engagement, Chestnut’s new appointment builds upon his career as one of jazz’s most celebrated performers.
ABRIDGED BIOGRAPHY FOR CYRUS CHESTNUT
Cyrus Chestnut is a musical force that utilizes his classical, spiritual, and jazz influences to entertain and capture his audiences. As one of the world’s most respected pianists, Cyrus has been lauded by various jazz publications and featured in the New York Times for his unique musical style. A noted bandleader and music director, Cyrus has played at the world’s premier venues and festivals, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the New Orleans Jazz Fest.
As a bandleader, Cyrus Chestnut’s repertoire is vast and his work has been featured in films such as Kansas City and Piano Grand: A Smithsonian Celebration. With more than a dozen studio albums in his discography, Cyrus continues to experiment with his familiar integration of jazz, spiritual and classical sounds that reflect his heritage and identity as an artist. Evidence of this brilliant integration has been displayed by his work as a music director with the legendary Kathleen Battle on “So Many Stars” and “Underground Railroad,” and in his current, 2014 studio release entitled Midnight Melodies.
An alumnus of the nation’s top music institutions, including Peabody Preparatory and The Walden School, Cyrus’ music showcases his discipline and respect for his early training and its influence on his sound today. Following his studies at Peabody and the Walden School, Chestnut excelled as a student at the Berklee College of Music, where he received the Oscar Peterson Award, Count Basie Award, and Quincy Jones Award for his exceptional skill. Recently appointed to the faculty at the prestigious Howard University Department of Music, Chestnut continues to honor the legacy of education and mentorship by offering lectures on jazz piano and improvisation to the next generation of musical artists. Devoted to education and community engagement, Chestnut’s new appointment builds upon his career as one of jazz’s most celebrated performers.