By Rich Fisher
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-925012.mp3
Tulsa, Oklahoma – On our program today, we speak with jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut (born in Baltimore in 1963), who will perform a solo recital this evening (Tuesday the 21st) at 7:30pm at the Helmerich Theatre in Cascia Hall School. It's the first production in a new season of stellar-looking shows from Tulsa's own Choregus Productions; you can learn more about this show here: [http://www.choregus.org/index/?page_id=188]. Having played, over the years, with everyone from Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Lovano to Betty Carter, Jon Hendricks, and Kathleen Battle --- and being remarkably comfortable with not just the classic jazz repertoire but also gospel and classical music (as well as tunes by Simon and Garfunkel, Roberta Flack, and even Elvis Presley) --- Chestnut has been called "the best jazz pianist of his generation" by a critic at Time magazine. Moreover, Chestnut is a strong composer in his own right --- his appearance in Tulsa tonight promises to be a treat. Also on our show today, commentator Randy Kindy is wondering why so many American television and radio reporters (on any and all of the major networks) choose to employ --- or not to employ (?) --- ethnic or linguistic accents when speaking various words aloud.