Cyrus Chestnut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cyrus Chestnut
Background information
Born	(1963-01-17) January 17, 1963 (age 62) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, producer
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Alfa, Evidence, Atlantic, Warner Bros., Telarc, WJ3

Cyrus Chestnut (born January 17, 1963) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and music producer. He is known for his amazing piano skills and his unique way of playing jazz. A music critic once said that Cyrus is great at using silence and rhythm in his music, which makes him stand out.

Early Life and Learning

Cyrus Chestnut was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1963. His parents were both involved in music at their church. His dad, McDonald, played the piano, and his mom, Flossie, directed the choir.

Cyrus started learning piano when he was just seven years old. As a boy, he played music at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. By the age of nine, he was already studying classical music at a special school called the Peabody Institute. Later, in 1985, Cyrus earned a degree in jazz composition and arranging from Berklee College of Music in Boston. This helped him learn how to write and arrange jazz music.

Jazz Career Highlights

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cyrus Chestnut started working with many famous jazz musicians. Some of these included Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, and Donald Harrison.

He also joined the band of jazz singer Betty Carter in the early 1990s. He played on her 1992 album called It's Not About the Melody. In that same year, Cyrus released his very first albums as a bandleader. These albums were called The Nutman Speaks and Nut. Since then, he has continued to lead his own bands and record many more albums.

Cyrus's Music Style

In 2006, Cyrus Chestnut released an album called Genuine Chestnut. On this album, he played with his regular band members, Michael Hawkins on bass and Neal Smith on drums. Other musicians like Russell Malone (guitar) and Steven Kroon (percussion) also joined in.

The album included jazz versions of popular songs. One song was "If" by the band Bread, which was a soft-rock hit from the 1970s. Cyrus remembered playing this song for his English teacher's wedding when he was in sixth grade! He has played it in many different ways over the years. The album also featured one of Cyrus's own songs, "Mason–Dixon Line," which is a fun, fast-paced jazz tune.

Cyrus Chestnut is known for his exciting and soulful piano playing. He often mixes different styles, including jazz, blues, and gospel music, which he learned from playing in church.

Albums by Cyrus Chestnut

Cyrus Chestnut has released many albums as a bandleader. Here are some of his notable works:

• The Nutman Speaks (1992)
• Nut (1992)
• Revelations (1993)
• Dark Before the Dawn (1994)
• Earth Stories (1995)
• Blessed Quietness (1996) – This album features Cyrus playing solo piano.
• Cyrus Chestnut (1998)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (2000) – A jazz version of the classic holiday music.
• Soul Food (2001)
• You Are My Sunshine (2002)
• Genuine Chestnut (2005)
• Cyrus Plays Elvis (2007) – Where he plays jazz versions of Elvis Presley's songs.
• Spirit (2008) – Another solo piano album.
• Soul Brother Cool (2013)
• A Million Colors in Your Mind (2014)
• Natural Essence (2015)
• There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (2017)
• Kaleidoscope (2018)
• My Father's Hands (2022)

Cyrus has also played as a sideman (a supporting musician) on many albums for other artists. He has worked with a wide range of musicians, including Betty Carter, James Carter, Freddy Cole, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis, and Bette Midler.

See also

In Spanish: Cyrus Chestnut para niños