With jazz quartet I came up with this song when the Discovery Channel for UK came to video a few musicians at the Historic Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo NY.  It has a decidedly African sound to it.  The middle is the sound worship in a typical African-American Church while I mix the sounds of the land of Bungoma Kenya where my father was born.  Kukhu means grandma in Lubukusu, the language of the Bukusu people.  My Grandmother's name was Rael Nelima, or Rachel Nelima.  Her faith in Christ and prayers have been a blessing to many.

Grandma Kukhus's Praise Dance:Tiki Tiki Yaya

This is at tribute to one of my first jazz inspirations Allen Tinney.  I got to know Dr. Tinney as a teenager and was amazed that He knew George Gershwin as a kid, and grew up with Bud Powell and had people like Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk looking to him as an important musical figure.  

Professor Al Tinney's Class

Sounds of classical, jazz, soul, all in the Spirit of Love, featuring Edward Chilungu on piano, Andre Killian on Sax, Ben Levitt on Bass, and Dave "T-Spoon" Hewlitt on drums, Anthony Kuszabucki on Guitar

Edward Chilungu Quintet Plays Yes Jesus Loves Me

My emotional depiction of the struggles and victories since September 11, 2001.  I moved just outside NYC in whiteplains to study classical piano about two weeks before this tragic event.  Months later I had a deep encounter with Jesus Christ on Palm Sunday that changed the trajectory of my musical ambitions and I would say gave me a new identity as a believer in Christ.

Restitution Quartet Version

A song about a girl from China who was returning back to USA shortly after Christmas in 2012.  The song is a love song more to an ideal bride, and is in my mind how Christ would sing to us His Bride.

Yayas Homecoming Trio Version

From a live recital in Buffalo, New York, featuring Brahms Sonata in f minor and my own original improvisations as well as a lecture on the creative process and how to enter into the spontaneous flow.

Improvised Variations On An Original Theme Dedicated To Beethoven's Op. 111 Sonata Mvt. 2

This work is very similar to the music of early twentieth century composers Scriabin, and other composers of the newly developing atonal style.  Many of my favorite jazz musicians were very well versed in the dissonances of early twentieth century harmonic style.  This is more reminiscent of that era.

"The Breath", original improvisation

Me playing the famously tricky Sonata no. Five by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin at the end of one of my recitals while a student at music conservatory.

Edward M. Chilungu

Popular tracks