Cardi B’s virtuoso pianist just stole the show at the Grammys – and Twitter is obsessed
12 February 2019, 15:03 | Updated: 12 February 2019, 15:06
We’ve found the true star of the Grammy Awards: Cardi B’s virtuoso pianist, composer and music education advocate, Chloe Flower.
Last night at the Grammy Awards, American rapper Cardi B performed ‘Money’ – but no one could take their eyes off her pianist.
Chloe Flower, a classically trained composer-pianist, opened the performance with some impressionistic broken chords, reminiscent of Ravel or Debussy, on Liberace’s crystal piano.
She then crafted the opening into a beautiful jazz melody, before concentrating on the bass end of the piano – creating the perfect level of drama to introduce Cardi to the stage.
‘Music shows us that every story within every voice matters’: Michelle Obama’s Grammys speech >
And Twitter went nuts for it:
ICYMI - Cardi B’s #GRAMMYs performance pic.twitter.com/IWzWjbbbpd
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) February 11, 2019
Can someone please tell me who Cardi B’s pianist is at the #Grammys? She is rocking the hell out. pic.twitter.com/dbcB7JlbxW
— Ray Goldberg, Already Missing PodCon (@Sunshine_Raygun) February 11, 2019
WHOOO is @iamcardib’s badass fierce pianist?! #GRAMMYs
— Noora Nasrallah (@PurpleNaNo) February 11, 2019
For about ten seconds, the world thought Cardi B was a classically trained pianist #GRAMMYs
— Dan Zappulla (@danzappulla) February 11, 2019
Love me some @iamcardib, but also who is this pianist?!?!?
— Juana Summers Markland (@jmsummers) February 11, 2019
Flower, born Chloe Won, scored the documentary A Ballerina’s Tale about the American ballet dancer Misty Copeland, and has been featured on songs with Timbaland, Nas and Celine Dion.
She regularly posts covers on Instagram, including a piano rendition of ‘Humble’ by Kendrick Lamar – which was remixed earlier this year by an opera singer.
But not only is she a magnificent pianist: since 2006, Flower has worked with The Somaly Mam Foundation and Organisation to save children from sex slavery. She also works with CAST LA towards ending human trafficking and global human rights violations, and was presented with a Creative Impact Award in 2013 for her work on The Flower Project – a music and arts initiative aimed at reintegrating arts education into schools, specifically in areas of poverty.
In a recent post, she said: “To all the parents, students, administrators, community members & local government officials, DEMAND MUSIC EDUCATION in your schools as part of the core curriculum. It is as important as math, science & sports!!!”
Now, the superstar is making waves once again after signing an exclusive record deal with Sony Music Masterworks.
Speaking about her exciting new partnership, Chloe explained: “It’s not only an honour to be part of the Sony family, but I couldn’t be more excited about the incredible team I’ll be working with. I waited many years to find the right home for my music and my sound, and it was certainly worth the wait!”
Chloe, you’re awesome.
