Chiara Pancaldi is a passionate young Italian jazz singer with a musical style mainly influenced by jazz and Brazilian music. She has worked and performed with many great Italian and American jazz musicians such as John Webber, Joe Farnsworth, Kirk Lightsey, Darryl Hall, Nicola Muresu, Nico Menci, Stefano Senni, Piero Odorici, Davide Brillante and many more. Pancaldi released her first album in 2012, and it was in that year that she caught the attention of the renowned pianist Cyrus Chestnut who invited her to perform at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center in NYC, and suggested that they make a record together.
Baltimore-born, soulful jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut’s musical roots are in the gospel church. He graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a degree in jazz composition and arranging. Chestnut went on to work with jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks from 1986-88, trumpeter Terence 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 skillful 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 Center Jazz Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.