Cyrus Chestnut - Midnight Melodies (2014)

This nearly perfect piano trio set was captured at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club in New York, is his first live recording date. It retains all of the feeling and power of his thrilling live performances but also benefits from Smoke's Steinway B that Cyrus claims is the best piano in the city. 'It s just my ticket. We connect. It s warm and it s sharp at the same time with a lot of earth in it. I like clubs like the Jazz Standard or Smoke, where you can sit down at the piano and get down-home, because that s the kind of audience they attract.' Joining Cyrus are bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis who both worked with the late John Hicks who was an important mentor and friend to Chestnut. Together, they take listeners on a musical odyssey that includes the music by Billy Strayhorn, John Coltrane, and, of course, John Hicks. There are also originals by Victor Lewis and Cyrus culminating in an impressive extended version of 'Naima s Love Song.' Cyrus is one of the great piano voices of his generation or any generation as he proves again with this rewarding live debut. Midnight Melodies is available for purchase as an 8-panel CD-Deluxe Album complete with liner notes, interview and additional photos.

Tracklist:

1. Two Heartbeats
2. Pocket Full Of Blues
3. To Be Determined
4. Bag's Groove
5. Hey, It's Me You're Talkin' To
6. Chelsea Bridge
7. U.M.M.G.Upper Manhattan Medical Group
8. I Wanted To Say
9. Giant Steps
10. Naima's Love Song
11. The Theme

Personnel:

Cyrus Chestnut - piano
Curtis Lundy - bass
Victor Lewis - drums