Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Cyrus Chestnut

Quote by Cyrus Chestnut

“I've been scuffed up a little, but I just hope and pray that I keep my youthful looks for as long as possible. I grew up in a musical family -- my mom sings and my father plays the piano. They were both very active in the church.”

Quote by Cyrus Chestnut

Author

Cyrus Chestnut

Cyrus Chestnut is a celebrated jazz pianist recognized for his expressive and soulful playing style. Born on January 17, 1963, Chestnut has made substantial contributions to the jazz world with his unique blend of traditional and contemporary jazz. He has collaborated with numerous prominent musicians and has released several highly acclaimed albums. more

You May Also Like

“My mom tells this story that even when I was in the womb, my father played the piano and she sang. So, before I officially got here, I was already surrounded by music. I also like the way my father explains it. When I was about 3-years old, in order to keep me quiet, my father would put me in the bassinet and either put on some music or play the piano. When he started playing, I got quiet and eventually went to sleep. He said by the time I turned 3, I just climbed up on the piano and started playing it with the attitude of I'm gonna play dis here piano.”

“Writing the songs at the cabin, I couldn't help but be drawn to the boom-chicka rhythms as much as I tried to fight it. But when I fought it, the creative process was interrupted, so I ended up going with it. If I'm ever accused of being derivative of my heroes then I would take that as a compliment. I like staying close to the roots of my influences.”

“Unfortunately, you don't get artist development anymore. Record companies have become a huge corporate thing. It used to be you'd meet someone [in the business] and they'd have a little history of music. Some people in the companies now don't even like music. It's just a job. So I miss the days when someone would go out on a limb and pick a band that was different. I just don't see that anymore. It's the same with the film industry.”