Cyrus Chestnut Dons Blue Suede Shoes

By I Aug. 10, 2007

Pianist Cyrus Chestnut tries his hand at the Elvis Presley songbook with his upcoming Koch release, Cyrus Plays Elvis.

The disc, to be released Oct. 9, includes Chestnut’s renditions of the hit songs “Heartbreak Hotel,” “It’s Now Or Never” and “In The Ghetto.” Joining him on the date are bassist Dezron L. Douglas and drummer Neal Smith, with guest appearances on several tracks by saxophonist Mark Gross.

Chestnut has recorded with Betty Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, and Branford and Wynton Marsalis. He admitted that tackling Presley’s music may be an unusual move for an artist of his stature, but said the project sprung from an uncontrollable urge to explore the rock ‘n’ roll icon’s music.

“Elvis was unique,” he said in a news release. “As a person, he created his own phenomenon. And as a singer, he told his story using music he felt good about.”