CYRUS CHESTNUT — Midnight Melodies (review)

CYRUS CHESTNUT — Midnight Melodies album cover

Live album · 2014 · Hard Bop

4.5/5 · 2015-03-22
Matt

Another new one from that new label Smoke Sessions. This time we have the talented Cyrus Chestnut performing his first live album, “Midnight Melodies” at the Smoke Jazz Club. Trio is the band structure and as Cyrus states in the album cover notes “ That’s one thing I really liked about this particular project was that there were three equal participants versus just a bass and drummer being the support for the piano” and the recording does have that with the trio working right throughout as one working unit with some wonderful interplay and cohesiveness in their sound. Cyrus Chestnut has become one of the most highly rated pianists in Jazz currently with numerous collaborations in music with one of his very early influences being the pianist John Hicks who like Cyrus is adept at any form of Jazz. Three of John Hicks compositions are included but the album is not a tribute, it is just the band likes to play them. The recording also has three compositions included from the band with one from Cyrus and two from the drummer Victor Lewis with all three being just as good as the other great Jazz standards covered within the album from Strayhorn to Coltrane and Davis.

Then again although the composition’s are of an excellent quality this trio could take “Chopsticks” and make it sound amazing such as the talent within the band. Cyrus Chestnut on piano first became noticed by Jazz audiences in 1986 first supporting Jon Hendicks followed by Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Wynton Marsalis and Betty Carter who became another major influence in shaping Cyrus Chestnut’s music and approach with her advice. Curtis Lundy on bass has also previously worked with Betty Carter as well as John Hicks and like Cyrus has played most of these compositions right throughout their careers. The drummer is Victor Lewis who although did not work with Betty Carter, he did with Carmen Lundy (sister to Curtis) but once again it is John Hicks whose presence and influence is right there with the Trio, as Victor also spent time drumming for him. Still not a tribute album it is just all this familiarity with the band members themselves and past music collaborations brings a unique understanding into so many of the album’s compositions.

A John Hicks composition gets proceedings underway, “Two Heartbeats” with a laid back mid tempo structure Cyrus just dances over that piano building intensity to return beautifully back to the compositions beginning. Slightly quicker time with “Pocket Full of Blues” and a twang that Curtis’ bass provides between Cyrus’ piano is a delight with another stunning build throughout his solo. The next is one of Cyrus Chestnuts’ own compositions “To Be Determined” with a beautiful relaxed feel and I find from this point the album seems to improve even more with a fabulous take of “Bag’s Groove” and does Cyrus lay down one superb piano input getting quite percussive at points throughout the Milt Jackson Jazz standard and becoming an album highlight. The band members own compositions with the following by Victor Lewis the drummer “Hey, It’s Me You’re Talkin’ To” are wonderful with Victor opening with a superb drum solo and the band following with more of that amazing Cyrus piano technique all over it. Two Billy Strayhorn compositions are next with a beautiful relaxed take of the ballad “Chelsea Bridge” with U.M.M.G. ( Upper Manhattan Medical Group) following with Cyrus coming on a lovely groove for this number with a superb take of the tune to follow. There is another composition from Victor Lewis “I Wanted To Say” with a swirl coming from the pianists left hand and his right hitting high notes like ice picks you know you are in for another musical treat from Cyrus and another bonus in the number is Curtis’ superb solo on bass. “ Giant Steps” ,the ballad “Naima’s Love Song” and Miles Davis’ “The Theme” containing a band introduction and farewell from Cyrus round of this fabulous new Live recording with all of these last three numbers having wonderful takes and solos from the band.

Early days I know but this one will be mentioned at the end of the year in my top albums. Cyrus has all the Jazz space required within his play but it is not often that a pianist can go right to the other extreme filling the place with a multitude of notes and just keep sounding better. Highly ,Highly Recommended for us lovers of a great Jazz Trio and a working band.