Cyrus Chestnut: There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Cyrus Chestnut (p)
Steve Nelson (vibes)
Djoré Nance (v)
Lenny White (syn)
Buster Williams (b)
Charlotte Small (v)
Keesha Gumbs (v)

Label:

HighNote

November/2017

Catalogue Number:

HCD 7304

RecordDate:

27 February 2017

Chestnut has often highlighted his background in the church, both in his oft-times soulful playing style and in his selection of material, this epitomised here by the inclusion of the title-track, a well-known piece by the gospel composer Doris Akers taken solo. Otherwise, his choices here are more eclectic, as his improvisation on Chopin's ‘Prelude’ attests, Williams putting down a romping bassline. Bobby Hutcherson's perky little tune ‘The Littlest One of All’, with its repeated vibes-piano motif, opens giving Nelson's slightly fragile sound an airing as he builds, Chestnut's reprise of the theme pleasingly spare. ‘Nardis’ is more sombre at first, Williams buzzing around and White clattering as Chestnut moves into Tyner mode. ‘Christina’ is simpler, quieter too, before White's brushes herald the pianist's latin-infused ‘CDC’ ahead of Monk's always intriguing ‘Rhythm-A-Ning’, with Chestnut evoking its creator in rather hurried fashion. Nelson tackles ‘Easy Living’ with considerable aplomb, adding to his already substantive reputation as a valid successor to Milt Jackson, while Chestnut also digs in capably. The three-person vocal team on The Stylistics' ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ add a slightly unexpected, if engaging, element to an album that emphasises Chestnut's versatility.

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