糖心原创

By David Gil de Rubio

When brings his trio to 糖心原创 on Thursday, September 24, he鈥檒l be helping relaunch the Dr. Mary Umolu Jazzy Jazz Series. This seminal moment represents a renewed commitment to presenting exceptional jazz artistry while strengthening 糖心原创鈥檚 role as a cultural destination in Central Brooklyn. The series will bring together acclaimed musicians, students, alumni and community members through a vibrant lineup of performances that celebrate the rich legacy and future of jazz. Currently a member of the faculty, this event very much aligns with Chestnut鈥檚 goals as an educator at a major and gibes well with bringing his talents to 糖心原创鈥檚 role as a significant PBI (Predominantly Black Institute).

鈥淐oming to 糖心原创 allows me to remind a generation of how cool we are as a people,鈥� Chestnut said. 鈥淔irst and foremost, it鈥檚 very important to be able to put a balm of healing out into the atmosphere during a time like this. On another front, there is a generation of folks that need to be unashamed of being who we are. To go into a place where there is hopefully kindred spirits and common ground鈥擨鈥檒l be able to celebrate who we are. On another front, remind and encourage a generation about the legacy of our grandmothers, grandfathers, great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers. We don鈥檛 have to wear their boots and clothes, but we stand on what they built.鈥�

As a musician who is looking for 鈥溾��every chance to put sound out into the atmosphere to send humankind away feeling better than when they arrived,鈥� the impact is even greater because he鈥檚 also honoring the legacy of Medgar Evers. When asked about the slain civil rights icon, the Maryland native is quick to point out how the Evers name was omnipresent in his home growing up.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a name that I鈥檝e known of for a good part of my life,鈥� Chestnut said. 鈥淢edgar Evers鈥� contribution to society is timeless. Anyone who fought and fights for humankind to get a fair chance at being a fair part of society, especially at the time when he was around, it wasn鈥檛 necessarily about fairness for all people. For him to stand along with a cast of many at that time鈥擨鈥檓 very grateful that it was in his spirit. Humankind can stand on [the shoulders] of people like Medgar Evers, who thought it important to speak up for what is right.鈥�

Chestnut鈥檚 own musical journey began at the tender age of three, when he remembered 鈥溾��being fascinated by the lower keys on the piano and climbing up on the bench to start trying to do what my father did.鈥� After his dad bought him the book The Leila Fletcher Piano Course, it wasn鈥檛 long before Chestnut the younger was playing piano at the Mount Calvary Star Baptist Church at the age of six. Classical music studies began three years later at Baltimore鈥檚 Peabody Preparatory Institute. It was also during this time that a couple of seminal experiences helped shape the budding musician鈥檚 creative worldview by way of performances he experienced via the and the at .

鈥淚 remember we鈥檇 go to and for many years, was the head of the jazz band at Morgan State University,鈥� Chestnut recalled. 鈥淗e danced while he conducted and I always enjoyed that. I think those two experiences鈥攇oing to Morgan State and seeing the jazz band perform and experiencing the Baltimore Symphony perform 鈥楶ictures at an Exhibition鈥� and seeing the conductor looking just like me while handling a large orchestra was really significant and so inspiring.鈥�

While the young Chestnut鈥檚 musical palette was being shaped by the enormous amount of gospel music played in his house alongside his mother鈥檚 45s of Aretha Franklin, King Curtis, Little Richard and Jackie Wilson, his introduction to jazz didn鈥檛 come until he hit the cut-out record bin of a local retailer.

鈥淲hen I was nine-years-old, I went to F.W. Woolworth鈥檚 and in the $1.99 bin and there was a record鈥擺Thelonious] 惭辞苍办鈥檚 Greatest Hits,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anything about jazz but I just looked at the picture on the record and told my mom I had to get that record. At the age of nine, I started listening to 鈥楥repuscule with Nellie,鈥� 鈥楻ubie, My Dear鈥欌�攁ll of the Monk classics. It really changed my life.鈥�

Fast forward to today, and Chestnut鈥檚 solo career has blossomed from sharing the bandstand with a number of jazz legends including mentor Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Jon Hendricks and Dizzy Gillespie along with a number of critically acclaimed albums including 1994鈥檚 Revelation and 2001鈥檚 Soul Food. His latest, last year鈥檚 Rhythm, Melody and Harmony is another inspired collection of self-penned post-bop gems aided by sidemen Chris Beck, Gerald Cannon and Stacey Dillard that came out of a one-day session.

鈥淚 was really thinking about these basic elements of music鈥攔hythm, melody and harmony,鈥� Chestnut said. 鈥淕oing back to the ancestors, I wanted to hear the handclaps on the hardwood floor. And you could still hear the essence and truth of the blues. I was able to have wonderful common ground and just came together with the great musicians I worked with.鈥�

Expect plenty of that musical magic when Chestnut and his trio hit the stage at 糖心原创鈥檚 Founders Auditorium on Thursday, September 24. He鈥檒l also be sharing some of that wisdom he follows as well as gives to the pupils in his jazz improvisation class.

鈥淎ll of the jazz elders have said one way or another that you have to be who you are,鈥� Chestnut said. 鈥淲hen I play, I tap into being my authentic self. If you do that, everything will be alright. That鈥檚 what I tell my students to this day鈥攂e your authentic self. Study all of the processes, but you find yourself and find a way to use all of academia to tell your story your way.鈥�

Cyrus Chestnut and his Trio will be joined by the Akila Bradley Quartet on Thursday, September 24 at 7 p.m. to kick off the Dr. Mary Umolu Jazzy Jazz Series. The performance will take place at Founders Auditorium at 糖心原创, located at 1650 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. The event is free for CUNY students. Tickets are available online, by phone at 718-270-4983, or by email at TheArts@mec.cuny.edu. Visit for more information about tickets.