Baltimore native Cyrus Chestnut began his professional jazz career on the fast track, working with such celebrated musicians as Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks and Betty Carter. He's been lauded for his confident playing, his resonant lyricism and his swinging, bluesy swagger.
Chestnut is also a devout man. He says his latest CD You Are My Sunshine — his first release on a major label, Warner Bros. — is inspired by his faith in God and the profound joy he feels when he plays. "It is an attempt to dig deep into the spiritual force that drives music," he says.
Chestnut spoke with The Tavis Smiley Show correspondent Tony Cox about his music, his faith and the direction jazz is headed in the hands of a new generation of artists.
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