Cyrus Chestnut • Natural Essence

 

Review
by Matt Collar
As with his previous effort, 2015's A Million Colors in Your Mind, pianist Cyrus Chestnut's second Highnote release, 2016's Natural Essence, finds him communing with two veteran artists for a deeply heartfelt and swinging session. Whereas last time Chestnut was joined by bassist David Williams and drummer Victor Lewis, here he has conscripted the talents of bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. Both Williams and White are industry icons with decades of playing experience and credits with such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Tony Williams, McCoy Tyner, and many others. While many of Chestnut's recordings lean toward the strait-laced and straight-ahead approach to modern jazz, he is by no means a reserved musical traditionalist. On the contrary, while he is adept at swinging acoustic jazz, one of his most formative experiences was as a member of vocalist Betty Carter's trio. A genre-bending maverick, Carter purportedly encouraged Chestnut to try new things and approach even the most well-known standard in an unexpected way. That expectation defying aesthetic fits nicely into Chestnut's work here with Williams and White, who come from a generation of jazz musicians who grew up playing electrified fusion, funk, and highly progressive post-bop influenced by the avant-garde. While the music here is more stripped down to the jazz essentials, they nonetheless tackle even the most well-known standard, like "It Could Happen to You," with a creative ebullience and in-the-moment spontaneity that grab your attention throughout. Also thrilling are the trio's takes on several original compositions, including Chestnut's sophisticated, minor-tinged "Faith Amongst the Unknown," White's languid, urbane ballad "Dedication," and Williams' soulful, roiling "Toku-Do."
https://www.allmusic.com/album/natural-essence-mw0002937037

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Reseña
por Matt Collar
Al igual que con su anterior trabajo, A Million Colors in Your Mind de 2015, el segundo lanzamiento de Highnote del pianista Cyrus Chestnut, Natural Essence de 2016, lo encuentra en comunión con dos artistas veteranos para una sesión profundamente sentida y llena de swing. Mientras que la última vez Chestnut estuvo acompañado por el bajista David Williams y el baterista Victor Lewis, aquí ha reclutado el talento del bajista Buster Williams y el baterista Lenny White. Tanto Williams como White son iconos de la industria con décadas de experiencia y créditos con luminarias como Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Tony Williams, McCoy Tyner y muchos otros. Aunque muchas de las grabaciones de Chestnut se inclinan hacia el enfoque directo y sin rodeos del jazz moderno, no es en absoluto un tradicionalista musical reservado. Por el contrario, aunque es experto en el jazz acústico con swing, una de sus experiencias más formativas fue como miembro del trío de la vocalista Betty Carter. Carter, una inconformista de los géneros, supuestamente animó a Chestnut a probar cosas nuevas y a abordar incluso los estándares más conocidos de forma inesperada. Esa estética que desafía las expectativas encaja perfectamente en el trabajo de Chestnut aquí con Williams y White, que provienen de una generación de músicos de jazz que crecieron tocando fusión electrificada, funk y post-bop altamente progresivo influenciado por la vanguardia. Aunque la música aquí se reduce a lo esencial del jazz, abordan incluso los estándares más conocidos, como "It Could Happen to You", con una ebullición creativa y una espontaneidad en el momento que atrae la atención. También son emocionantes las composiciones originales del trío, como la sofisticada "Faith Amongst the Unknown" de Chestnut, la lánguida balada urbana "Dedication" de White y la conmovedora "Toku-Do" de Williams.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/natural-essence-mw0002937037

www.cyruschestnut.net ...

Tracks:
1 - Mamacita 5:33
2 - It Could Happen To You 7:12
3 - Faith Amongst The Unknown 6:15
4 - I Cover The Waterfront 6:57
5 - I Remember 7:34
6 - Dedication 7:59
7 - My Romance 9:06
8 - Toku-Do 6:21
9 - Minority 6:11


Credits:
    Double Bass – Buster Williams
    Drums – Lenny White
    Engineer, Mixed By – Katsuhiko Naito
    Piano – Cyrus Chestnut
    Producer – Cyrus Chestnut

Recorded on November 17, 2015

Label:    HighNote Records, Inc. – HCD 7283
Released:    2016
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Post Bop

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