Chiara Pancaldi with Cyrus Chestnut
@ the PizzaExpress Jazz Club
19 November 2016

Click an image to enlarge.

Chiara Pancaldi biography

Chiara Pancaldi is a passionate young Italian jazz singer. A music lover, she practices and loves all kinds of music, from Classical to Jazz, from Brazilian to Indian Classical Music. Her musical style is mainly influenced by jazz and Brazilian music.

She had a chance to study with many great jazz musicians such as Sheila Jordan, Michele Hendricks, Rachel Gould, Roberta Gambarini, Jeremy Pelt, Harold Mabern, Barry Harris, Vincent Harring, her vocals talents attracting their attention.

Performing live in clubs and festivals in Italy and abroad she has worked and performed with many great Italian and American jazz musicians such as Cyrus Chestnut, John Webber, Joe Farnsworth, Kirk Lighsey, Darryl Hall, Nicola Muresu, Nico Menci, Stefano Senni, Piero Odorici, Davide Brillante and many more.

In 2012 Pancaldi caught the attention of the renowned piano player Cyrus Chestnut who invited her to perform at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Centre in NYC in January 2013, and suggested that they make a record together.

She returned to New York in September 2013 in order to record a session with a truly excellent trio: Cyrus Chestnut on piano, John Webber on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums.

Cyrus Chestnut biography

Born on January 17, 1963, in Baltimore, soulful jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut’s musical roots lead to the gospel church. He graduated at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a degree in jazz composition and arranging. After graduating from Berklee, Chestnut went on to work with jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks from 1986-88, trumpeter Terrence Blanchard and saxophonist Donald Harrison from 1988-90, before joining Wynton Marsalis in 1991. In 1991 Cyrus went on the road for two years as the pianist for the Betty Carter Trio. Chestnut has earned a reputation for his skilful versatility, his ability for blending sounds and for unabashedly bringing gospel into the club performances he gives.

Throughout his career, Chestnut has worked with an array of artists, including saxophonists James Carter, Donald Harrison and Joe Lovano; trumpeters Roy Hargrove and Freddie Hubbard; pianist Chick Corea, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and opera singer Kathleen Battle, with whom he tours occasionally since 1995. Chestnut continually tours with his trio, playing live at jazz festivals around the world as well as clubs and concert halls. His leadership and prowess as a soloist has also led him to be a first call for the piano chair in many big bands including the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.