The Miller Theatre Presents CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 01, 2014
Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts continues its 2014-15 Jazz series with the CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO featuring Cyrus Chestnut, piano, Dezron Douglas, bass, Neal Smith, drums. Tonight, November 1, 2014, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University (2960 Broadway at 116th Street)
Tickets: $20-$30 • Students with valid ID: $15-$21.
JAZZ
In a city so heavily steeped in jazz music, Miller Theatre remains a pillar of the uptown jazz scene with a diverse lineup that embraces great jazz artists, each with their own unique style. In the 2014-2015 season, the theatre welcomes back four groups that previously enchanted Miller audiences with their dazzling improvisations and infectious energy. These artists draw inspiration from a variety of sources-gospel and bebop, West Africa and Harlem-to make this uniquely American art form their own.
Jazz
Saturday, November 1, 2014, 8:00 p.m.
Cyrus Chestnut Trio
Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street) Dynamic pianist Cyrus Chestnut's trio brings together old-school jazz, blues, and gospel with the heartfelt passion that has made him a long-standing favorite at Miller. From a childhood spent playing the piano at church, Chestnut grew to perform alongside jazz greats such as Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillepsie. Today, he has earned his own place amongst today's standout players, with Time magazine calling him "the best jazz pianist of his generation."Born on January 17, 1963, in Baltimore, MD, jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and went on to work with jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks from 1986-88, and trumpeter Terrence Blanchard and saxophonist Donald Harrison from 1988-90, before joining jazz legend Wynton Marsalis in 1991.
In 1994, Chestnut released Dark Before the Dawn for Atlantic Records, which debuted in the sixth spot on the Billboard Jazz Charts. The very next year, Chestnut released the critically acclaimed Earth Stories, for which he composed nine of the CD's eleven tracks. Other albums include Chestnut's 2001 release, Soul Food, (2001), which provided a showcase for his versatility, the solo piano album Blessed Quietness: Collection of Hymns, Spirituals, and Carols (1996), Cyrus Chestnut (1998), and You Are My Sunshine (2003) on Warner Brothers Records. The New York Daily News once heralded Chestnut as the rightful heir to Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Erroll Garner. Chestnut continually tours with his trio, playing live at jazz festivals around the world as well as clubs and concert halls. His leadership and prowess as a soloist has also led him to be a first call for the piano chair in many big bands including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.Dezron Douglas
Known for his musical versatility, bassist Dezron Douglas is one of the most in-demand young bassists in jazz today. With the encouragement of his mentor, the late saxophonist, composer, and educator Jackie Mclean, he enrolled in the Jackie McLean Institute of African American Music at the Hartt School of Music. Studying at Hartt offered him the opportunity to learn from and work with such notable jazz musicians such as Nat Reeves, Steve Davis, and of course Jackie McLean. While still in school he routinely played with Rene McLean, Steve Davis, Jimmy Greene, Alan Jay Palmer, Abraham Burton, and Eric McPherson, Nita Zarif, and Montenia Shider.
While in college, he co-founded The New Jazz Workshop of Hartford, which performs across the Tri-State area and with notable jazz musicians around the world. Their debut album, Underground, was released in July of 2012. Dezron is a long-standing member of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio and Papo Vazquez and the Mighty Pirates. He is currently on tour with the Ravi Coltrane Quartet. He has recorded four albums as a leader, most recentlyDezron Douglas: Live at Smalls on the Smalls Live label.Neal Smith
Born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Neal Smith attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Performance, the first African-American to earn a degree in Jazz Studies from the Conservatory.
In addition to his academic training, Neal has studied with Vernell Fournier, Greg Bandy, Paul Samuels, Michael Carvin, Tom Freer, and Bruce Collie. Neal leads his own group, which performs original compositions as well as classic arrangements of jazz standards. He also performs regularly with internationally recognized artists and has shared the stage with the likes of Tom Harrell, Anita Baker, Geri Allen, Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Fortune, Jimmy Owens, Eddie Harris, Isaac Hayes, Gary Bartz, Benny Golson, Donald Harrison, Frank Morgan, Brian Lynch, Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Frank Foster, Dewey Redman, and Vanessa Rubin. Recognizing the need for a record label that focuses exclusively on the production of jazz recordings, Neal founded the NASMusic label. He is currently an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music.Comments
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