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Oct 30, 2003 by Ryan O'Quinn For local pianist Lisa Hilton, "playing" the piano is exactly that. The Malibu composer doesn't consider it work, but instead describes her love of the piano as just plain fun. Her latest album, "In the Mood for Jazz," is getting rave reviews from tradio stations and critics around the world. Hilton has called Malibu home for the past 12 years and chose the city for its beauty and the small-town feel. "There's a lot of romance about growing up in a small town," said Hilton, who hails from San Luis Obispo. "But it's more fun to live in a small town that's near a big city." Hilton comes from a musical family and started playing piano at age seven. Although formal lessons began a year later, she taught herself for about a year and composed her first song, titles "Skipping," at age eight. Hilton moved from simple songs to blues during high school years and stopped playing the piano in college because because she did not want to pursue the path of a professional, classically trained pianist. "I'm actually a born-again pianist," Hilton said, "because I've only been playing again for about six or seven years." During her hiatus from music, Hilton didn't even own a piano and spent time in various other jobs including authoring a children's book and working in Hollywood studios as an art director for film and television. "I actually was inspired by David Foster at his house here in Malibu," Hilton said. "After I heard him play, I thought maybe my problem was classical music. I started writing my own stuff again and I love it." Hilton, who has released five albums, said she tried various genres of music but jazz is her latest passion. Some of her other compilations have included a range of styles including classical and pop music. "If you ask a musician what kind of music they like, it's like asking someone what kind of food they like," Hilton said. "I like music. It's like saying I like to eat." Critics and fans alike are in agreemen about her latest album. Carol Archer of Radio and Records Magazine said of Hilton, "One hears echoes of such greats as Stan Getz, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson." Music Director Eric Coen of WAER in New York is also a fan. "Lisa has outdone herself with this album, exquisitely setting all the right moods," Coen said. "I love this album." Hilton spoke of her work with a passion that would make anyone want to play the piano. She often described her compositions as a language that comes from the soul. She said the piano helped her express emotion starting in high school and now she gets to share her experiences musically with others. "It feels like magic. I feel like the music is inside of me at all times," Hilton said, describing the process of composing a piece of music. "It's just a matter of sitting down and spending time with it and seeing what's there." Hilton also said composing music is like a relationship; you start with something and have to nuture it to see what will happen. "I get to fall in love over and over again. Those feelings are universal," Hilton said. "When I find the right note or combination, it connects with how I feel and I know that's it." Hilton said the inspiration comes from other sources as well. Sometimes it will be from an experience of something tangible like a waterfall. Other times it is simply a matter of finding something new and interesting that she wants to do on the piano and she works that into a song. Bandmate Reggie McBride is also a fan of Hilton's music. McBride who is Hilton's bass player, is currently touring with Keb Mo and is working on Rod Stewart's latest album, "Standards: Volume 2". "She's a great musician," McBride said of Hilton. "Her compositions are really, really good and she's a delightful person to work with." "I think there's some jazz that's too smooth and some jazz that's too far the other direction, and I want to be right in the middle," Hilton said. "I believe people love the piano and I want to share what I love with the world." Whatever her secret, Lisa Hilton is having fun with the piano and the critics are agreeing. According to Hilton, she has rediscovered her passion and will never give it up again. For more information on the artist visit www.lisahiltonmusic.com
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