Cynthia appears regularly at WWOZ's Piano Night, and she has been a New Orleans fixture at various local clubs opening for acts like Eddie Bo, Mother Blues, and Irving Bannister. She is a bandleader and piano player for her own bands, "CC and the Revelers," "CC and The Bayou Black Band," and "Yeah You Right Blues Band." Her piano styles range from mellow jazz standards to high-energy rock and New Orleans blues and R&B.

She has worked as production assistant for Grammy-winning producer Michael Sembello, and she has served as consultant to several dueling piano venues, with over 15 years of experience on the dueling piano circuit including Pat O'Briens in New Orleans and San Antonio, TX.

Chen also played at Jazz Fest three times and performed several times with legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker and his daughter Zakiya. Most recently she held the piano accompaniment position for blues great Ron Thompson. Cynthia is planning to record a CD of original piano songs under the direction of pianist, producer and Grammy recipient George Winston.