[.ca] Cyrus Chestnut

From Amazon.com:
Pianist Cyrus Chestnut can do it all. Equally adept playing with trios, groups, or alone, he tackles a broad range of styles with both taste and intelligence on this eclectic disc. Joined by some of jazz's finest players--James Carter, Joe Lovano, Billy Higgins, and Ron Carter--Chestnut jumps from the funky group interplay of "The Journey" to the swinging romp "Sharp" and into the mainstream with the addition of R & B vocalist Anita Baker on "My Favorite Things" and "Summertime." On his own, Chestnut strides smoothly through the sly Art Tatum-influenced "Nutman's Inventions" before displaying his background in gospel and classical music on a pair of meditative ballads, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and "Elegant Flower (for Jazz'min). A rich, satisfying sampling of jazz. --Erik Pedersen

Chestnut Hits the Mark:
This album clearly establishes Chestnut as one of the great pianists of our time. The music is warm, Chestnut's playing is innovative, and the group's precision is flawless. The addition of James Carter (playing alto) and Joe Lovano to several tunes makes for excellent chemistry. Anita Baker's sultry and haunting vocals is a welcome addition to jazz and I look forward to hearing more. Chestnut's stylings transcend typical stereotypes. When I played "Elegant Flower" for my wife, her comment was "That's beautiful but I thought you said he plays jazz."

• Miss Thing - James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut
• Summertime - Anita Baker, Cyrus Chestnut
• Journey - James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut
• Elegant Flower (for Jazz'min) - Cyrus Chestnut
• Nutman's Invention, No. 2 - Cyrus Chestnut
• My Favorite Things - Anita Baker, Cyrus Chestnut
• Any Way You Can - Cyrus Chestnut, Joe Lovano
• Mother's Blues - Cyrus Chestnut
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Cyrus Chestnut
• Strolling in Central Park - Cyrus Chestnut
• Sharp - James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Joe Lovano