One thing one can say about this popular swinging
trad jazz pianist -- he's definitely not selfish when it comes to passing the musical
soul food around. The punchy, heavy-swaying eight-minute title track begins with a sizzling brass section and then
Marcus Printup's thoughtful, several-minute trumpet solo, while
Chestnut takes a supporting harmony role.
"Brother With the Mint Green Vine" opens with a moody, dark chord foundation (very reminiscent of
Joe Sample), but is largely fashioned as a duet between
Chestnut's plucky ivories and
Stefon Harris' whimsical vibes.
Harris gets more solo time than his host.
"Fantasia" has a classic trio sound in the
Vince Guaraldi vein and is most memorable for
Christian McBride's inventive upright bass solo over the soft brushes of
Lewis Nash;
Chestnut, of course, is at his elegant best, as he is on the one solo showcase he allows himself, a mournful rendition of
"Swing Low Sweet Chariot." He shows off his improv skills most effectively on the free-for-all trio piece
"Minor Funk." Just in case listeners should grow complacent that this is just another multifaceted
jazz project,
Chestnut tosses in a little musical humor with the peppy, horn-driven, New Orleans-styled
"Brother Hawky Hawk." It's
Chestnut's first album of original tunes since 1998, and he's back stronger than ever. ~ Jonathan Widran
![Come Away With Me [20th Anniversary]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602445077632_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Come Away With Me [20th Anniversary]")
