| Jazz |
Caelan Cardello’s “Chapter One” Marks a Commanding Studio Debut for a Rising Star of the New York Jazz Scene.
Not living in New York, I first heard Caelan Cardello’s name in passing. It surfaced like a familiar tune, mentioned by musicians and jazz aficionados alike: “You know that young pianist, uh, Caelan Cardello? That guy’s incredible.” The name stuck. It came up more and more frequently, until one day, an album landed on my desk. The cover alone said plenty: there was Cardello, seated at the piano with a mix of intensity and mischief in his gaze. I slipped the CD into the player. Within seconds, the piano and a warm acoustic quartet poured from the speakers, and I understood, immediately, what the fuss was about.
From Dizzy’s Club and Smalls to Jazz at Lincoln Center, Cardello’s name is catching fire across New York’s storied jazz venues. A 2021 BMI Future Jazz Master, he has studied with legendary figures like Harold Mabern, Bill Charlap, Fred Hersch, and Dave Kikoski. His playing blends timeless swing with melody-driven modernism, rooted in deep nuance and intention. Now, with Chapter One, his first studio album, Cardello presents eight original compositions and three arrangements that introduce his voice with striking clarity.
What’s immediately apparent is his reverence for jazz tradition, yet he never remains confined by it. The album navigates post-bop territory with confidence and imagination, offering inventive compositions and intricate arrangements that challenge the mind and reward repeat listens. There’s real substance here, both intellectual and emotional.
The story behind Chapter One sounds like a scene from a classic jazz film: after a New York performance, Cardello was approached by Geoffrey Hoefer, founder of Jazz Bird Records. Moved by the trio’s performance, Hoefer offered Cardello a recording contract on the spot. From there, Cardello began assembling a repertoire, both original and arranged, that would showcase not just his technical skill but also his personal journey and those who influenced him along the way.
You’ll hear hints of Latin rhythm woven into a distinctly urban, cerebral jazz vocabulary. Imagine Oscar Peterson raised on Bird and early Miles, with Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul alternating babysitting duties. While melody plays a central role in Cardello’s writing, it’s his harmonic architecture that truly stands out, mature, historically rich, and reflective of bebop greats like Thelonious Monk and contemporary stylists such as Brad Mehldau. As Cardello puts it, “It’s swing… or at least I try to preserve the swing, with newer melodies, modern melodies. I think about how to present swing in my own way.”
To really appreciate Cardello’s music, it helps to close your eyes and open your heart, and your ears. His work is brimming with passion, spirit, and a distinctly human warmth. Though the piano sits at the center of the trio, the music wouldn’t exist without the chemistry of the full group. Cardello is joined by Jonathon Muir-Cotton on bass, Domo Branch on drums, and Chris Lewis on tenor saxophone. He credits them all as indispensable collaborators.
“I first heard Jonathon at a jam session in this New York room,” Cardello recalls. “I had never met or heard him before, but from the very first notes, I felt the weight of his sound and the depth of his groove.” He speaks with equal admiration for Branch: “Domo plays with enormous soul. I’m so grateful for his drumming, powerful and nuanced, always listening, always responding with rhythm and grace.”
If discovering a young artist on the cusp of a major career is something that excites you, Chapter One is well worth your attention. This isn’t just a debut, it’s a statement of purpose from a pianist with a voice all his own, and a future that looks nothing short of brilliant.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 7th 2025
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Musicians:
Caelan Cardello, piano
Jonathan Muir-Cotton, bass
Domo Branch, drums
Chris Lewis, tenor saxophone ( track 6 & 9)
Tracklist:
Gone Fishin’
All of You
Steppin’ Up
John Neely
Motherhood
Don’t Look Back
A Night in New York
Groundwork
Solidarity
Where Do We Go Now
Music for the People