Musician's Bios
Lisa Hilton: Pianist/Composer/Producer
Passionate pianist, composer and producer, Lisa Hilton grew up in Southern California in a very musical family. Her father was a college professor and her mother did tax preparation and bookkeeping, but it was her great uncle who was a well regarded Dutch pianist. As a young girl, she taught herself to play the piano with a colored keyboard guide and soon began composing her first simple songs. She began the study of classical and modern piano literature at eight years old, and as a teen she began playing Standards and writing blues riffs. Now, Lisa Hilton's beautiful melodies, catchy beats and expressive piano style have captured the attention of music lovers everywhere. Her timeless instrumental music appeals to listeners of all ages, is currently being played on radio around the world and continues to earn awards, honors, and outstanding reviews.
As a bandleader she has played with the some of the most well respected names in jazz: Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Bobby Militello, Reggie McBride, Steve Wilson, Jeremy Pelt, and Tal Bergman, to name a few. As a producer she has again worked with the top engineers such as eighteen time Grammy Award winner, Al Schmitt, as well as Larry Mah, known for his work on The Matrix and other films.
Due to challenges in her own music education, Hilton is now very committed to music programs for children and teens, especially for those that are blind or visually impaired, such as programs at Perkins School for the Blind in Waterton, Massachusetts near Boston and The Junior Blind of America's Camp Bloomfield.
Grammy Award and DownBeat Poll winner Christian McBride, virtuoso of the acoustic and electric bass graduated from Julliard. Beginning in 1989, the Philadelphian has thus far been first-call-requested to accompany literally hundreds of fine artists, ranging in an impressive array from McCoy Tyner and Sting to Kathleen Battle and Diana Krall. He currently leads one of the hottest bands in music - the propulsive Christian McBride Band (saxophonist Ron Blake, keyboardist Geoffrey Keezer and drummer Terreon Gully). http://www.christianmcbride.com/
Jeremy Pelt: Trumpet and Fluglehorn
Jeremy Pelt arrived in New York in 1998 after graduating from Berklee College of Music. Since his arrival, he has been fortunate enough to play with many of today's and yesterday's Jazz luminaries, such as Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Ravi Coltrane, Nancy Wilson, and Bobby Short. Currently, he is member of the Lewis Nash Septet, Mingus Big Band, and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band featuring Louis Hayes. http://www.peltjazz.com/
Steve Wilson: Alto and Soprano Saxophone
A musician's musician, Wilson had been documented on over 100 recording with the likes of Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, and Billy Childs. Wilson has six recordings under his own name. http://www.stevewilsonmusic.com/
Lewis Nash has performed with Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Clark Terry and Milt Jackson. His impressive discography (over 300 recordings) includes projects with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Hank Jones, and John Lewis, as well as new jazz stars Diana Krall, Joe Lovano and Roy Hargrove. Demonstrating his stylistic diversity, Nash is also featured on recordings by Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Rankin, Melissa Manchester and George Michael. His lectures, clinics and workshops are as much in demand as his bandstand and studio work. http://www.lewisnash.com/
Bobby Militello: Sax
Bobby is well known to jazz fans for his many years of working with the master himself, Dave Brubeck. With over one hundred recordings he has played on to his name, the New Yorker also spent two years on the Tonight Show with Doc Severinson.
Eric Marienthal: Sax
Eric Marienthal went to Berklee School of Music in Boston, and was still a teenager when he began playing with jazz legend Chick Corea. He is an in-demand studio musician, has produced several books on the saxaphone, sometimes hosts a show on "The WAVE" radio station, and also tours with Chick Corea and the Rippingtons. He is from Orange County, and plays soprano, also, tenor saxes, and flute for Lisa Hilton. http://ericmarienthal.com/
Reggie McBride: Bass
Reggie McBride was going to go to Berklee School of Music on scholarship before he was recuited to do a Stevie Wonder recording. He is originally from Detroit. His background is more blues-oriented, and he has worked on major recordings for B.B. King, Elton John, Al Jarreau, Rod Stewart, and current Billboard chart topper, Keb Mo. He plays acoustic and electric bass, and lives in North San Diego County. http://reggiemcbride.com/
John Friday: Drums
Raised in Philadelphia, "Johnny" studied drums a a young boy and played in his father's weekend band. He has worked with Natalie Cole, Tom Scott and Bobby Caldwell, and has been a part of The Emmy Awards band for the last eight years.
Tal Bergman: Percussion
Tal Bergman was born in Israel, studied classical drumming, and moved to New York at age 20. Tal has worked in every genre of music as well as written scores for several mainstream movies. He has toured and played with musicians in many genres... rock: The Offspring, Billy Idol; jazz: Chris Botti and icon Joe Zawinul; pop: Rod Steward; urban: L.L. Cool J; and classical crossover: Loreena McKennitt.
Craig Stull: Guitar
Guitarist Craig Stull has worked on numerous television shows including "King of the Hill," "Spin City," "Ally McBeal," "Dawsons Creek," and "The X-Files". Films include Armaggedon, My Best Friends Wedding, Tin Cup, and Stuart Little 2. His talent is also heard in commercials for companies such as Nike, American Express, Toyota, Coors, Sony, and KFC. Recording artists he has worked with are Celine Dion, Shawn Colvin, Carole King, Vince Gill, and Randy Travis.
Phil Feather: Woodwinds
A multi-talented man, Phil has played, flute, oboe and clarinet with Lisa Hilton. Phil has also played live with Natalie Cole, Chicago, and Tony Bennett as well as many others. His television credits include "The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno," "Touched by an Angel," and "Drew Carey". Phil has played in many symphonies in the Los Angeles area and is also a professor of oboe at Cal State University at Los Angeles.
Ian Tilp: Alto Sax
Jazz musician Ian Tilp plays piano, clarinet, flute, and guitar, as well as sax. Ian plays sax on Lisa Hilton's "Feeling Good" CD and flute on her "In The Mood For Jazz" recording. Ian is a recent graduate of Cal State Northridge.
Marston Smith: Cello
Marston Smith has played acoustic cello with Lisa Hilton on the "Cocktails at Eight..." and "Feeling Good" albums. He is also well known for his electric cello and even twelve-string Celtic cello work. An accomplished musician who studied with renowned cellist Bernard Greenhouse, Marston has recorded wirh Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, Michael Jackson, and Bobbie Brown. His film credits include Out of Africa/John Barry, Poltergeist/Jerry Goldsmith, and An Officer and a Gentleman. http://marstonsmith.com/
Jim Sitterly: Violin
A master violinist, Jim Sitterly earned a Ph.D in music from U.S.C. and plays jazz violin, country fiddle, and classical violin concertos with equal aplomb and artistry. His work appears on Lisa Hiltons "Cocktails at Eight...," "Feeling Good" and "In The Mood For Jazz" albums. Jim also worked on the recent Grammy-winning Outkast CD. http://www.jimsitterly.com/
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