Cyrus Chestnut: Natural Essence

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Cyrus Chestnut (p)
Lenny White (syn)
Buster Williams (b)

Label:

HighNote

Dec/Jan/2016/2017

Catalogue Number:

HCD7283

RecordDate:

17 November 2015

This is one of those records that you can be playing in a room on your own and then suddenly people come in wanting to know who it is. But then all three musicians are so natural and unpretentious, that nearly everything has the feel of a first take. In fact, the entire album was completed in four hours. Cyrus Chestnut has been recording since the 1980s and some of these tracks, like the opening version of Joe Henderson's ‘Mamacita’, the standard ‘It Could Happen to You’ and especially his excellent original called ‘Faith Amongst the Unknown’ must be some of the most satisfying he's ever cut. Buster Williams is surely one of the best-ever bassists, with his distinctive sound and solos that encompass every inch of his instrument. His song ‘Toku-Do’ is another highlight. As for Lenny White, he's an ideal fit wherever he hangs his well-known hat! To be honest, the ballads (‘I Remember’ and ‘My Romance’) don't hold your attention in the same way the swingers do, but the CD closes with a tear-up treatment of Gigi Gryce's classic, ‘Minority’. Me, I'm going back to tracks one, two and three!

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