Blessed Quietness-A Collectio

Blessed Quietness: A Collection Of Hymns, Spirituals And Carols

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut returns to his roots in the Baptist Church in this collection of solo performances. Chestnut, who has been a member of bands led by Wynton Marsalis and Betty Carter among others, brings considerable technique and harmonic sophistication to these familiar pieces.

"Silent Night" and "The First Noel" are refracted lovingly through a prism of gently piquant chords. The result is as new and as familiar as Christmas morning. He sets a tone of hushed reverence, interspersed with rollicking, two-fisted prayer-meeting piano stomps. "Amazing Grace" ventures into McCoy Tyner territory, with cascading arpeggios, then returns to earth with a simple statement of the melody. Throughout, Chestnut holds fast to the true power of these songs, and to their time-tested ability to comfort and inspire.