• ABOUT
  • MUSIC
  • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • PRESS
  • PHILANTHROPY
  • CONTACT
  • LINKS

Rudy Royston

Transparent Sky promo image with press quotes "it's beautiful" and "impressive"

‘Tis the Season

October 29, 2021 by Lisa Hilton
Grammys, Luques Curtis, Rudy Royston, Transparent Sky

You might think it’s fall, but for many musicians this time is referred to as “Grammy Season”.  For a few months every year, thoughts are a bit diverted from our usual activities, and a wafting anxiety starts to infiltrate everyday instances as we try and connect with our friends and co-workers hoping to receive enough votes for a nomination.  When artists say they are honored to be nominated, that is really true – it is much harder to get nominated than to win – every nominee has a 20% chance to win, but the chance to get a nomination is much smaller and depends on the number of entrants.
 
Although I would love to receive a Grammy – or like some of the people I work with, a bunch of them – I do have mixed feelings about these awards because in the past there was a lot of “irregularities” with the award process.This year we have a new Grammy CEO, producer Harvey Mason Jr., and I know an effort has been made to improve the voting practices. The Grammy organization made some rule changes too, so we could see some surprises this year – that sounds good, right? 
 
For me, any kind of recognition is a sign that our album is touching and connecting with people around the world, which is the main reason we create music. Whether it’s an award or nomination like a Grammy, or #1 at Amazon, or being near the top of the JazzWeek chart – it’s a “vote” of appreciation for our efforts, and that we are reaching our audience even in this challenging time.  I also feel a responsibility to represent women in a field that has often overlooked women as bandleaders, composers and instrumental musicians, (women are acknowledged most often as singers).  So I’d love to see our album nominated to help even out the male dominated field ever so slightly on a road towards parity: it would feel good to make it a bit easier for your daughter or my niece or girls everywhere in the future.
 
In the meantime? No surprise, I’m back at the piano preparing for our next album – my 25th!   It is a passion and a joy to continue creating music and working with some of the most talented people in the business – Rudy Royston on drums, Luques Curtis on bass and engineers Chandler Harrod, Jay Newland, Larry Mah and Gavin Lurssen.  (I feel lucky to work with everyone – including Leigh Shane, Elizabeth McAlevy, Ryan Nava and Aaron Regan who also contributed their creative talents).  Making music is a daily “reward” for me, but… please still wish us luck for a possible Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album!

Enjoy your fall and Happy Halloween too 🎃! 
Lisa

a halloween image grid of Lisa Hilton and her trio and some pumpkins and pianos

album cover for lisa hilton's transparent sky album. Lisa stands on some stone wearing a white dress and a hat

Lisa Hilton and her Trio with Rudy Royston and Luques Curtis Masterfully Blend Traditions in an Inspiring New Recording

July 28, 2021 by Lisa Hilton
Lisa Hilton, Luques Curtis, Rudy Royston, Transparent Sky

Lisa Hilton’s Transparent Sky is Available September 3/Pre-order Aug 3

As America and other countries re-emerge from the limitations of 2020, Lisa Hilton and her trio with Rudy Royston and Luques Curtis, enthusiastically embrace the moment with a vibrant new jazz offering titled Transparent Sky, that will inspire, uplift and motivate us all. Rich with glorious harmonies and unique compositions, Hilton’s swinging band radiates a sun bleached aura to listeners. Throughout the album Hilton, Royston and Curtis develop a surprisingly wide range of rhythmic ideas from a variety of genres, masterfully blending classic traditions with new approaches and upbeat style.

The recording jumps in with the Latin tinged “Santa Monica Samba,” quickly following with the equally energetic “Random Journey” on this collection of nine originals, plus one cover. “What developed this year was a LOT of movement and richer chords and harmonies – which makes sense when you consider how static last year was. As musicians we need to challenge and also entertain ourselves, so I think that’s why I subconsciously wrote in so many rhythm changes and multiple harmonic directions,” says Hilton. “Living In Limbo,” “Chromatic Chronicles,” “Fall Upon a Miracle” and “Infinite Tango,” highlight the multiple creative rhythms of Hilton’s compositions and showcase ample opportunities for Curtis’s agile bass, and the delightful details of Royston’s drums.

Hilton has a way with ballads, and “Nightingales & Fairy Tales” is no exception. With its slight nod to Bill Evans in the sixties, this has the making of a jazz classic for a twenty – first century audience. In the same vein, a cover of “God Bless The Child,” co-written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr, is a charmer, and like all the tracks here, is skillfully and originally presented without being forced. “For a long time I’ve been trying to record cover songs by women who were composers, because there is very little attention paid to them in jazz. I think it’s important to give women recognition for their range of talents, and by promoting them, maybe we will see less discrimination in music”, Hilton muses.

Slowing towards the album’s end, “Extraordinary Everyday Things” is a calm and expressive soundscape, but with a surprise twist, Hilton finishes up with the title track, “Transparent Sky” as a sonorous piano solo. “The melody is beautiful and has a bit of swing, but the harmonic ideas are quite chromatic and dissonant with overlapping/lingering sonorities between bar lines.” She says. “This piece needs to be played sensitively or it will sound harsh, but that is like our lives today – we are living in sensitive times and need to be aware of how we connect and communicate. The solo piano clearly delivers those delicate harmonies along with the emotions. It’s about accepting our world as it is, whatever may be happening at that moment. Tomorrow will bring what it will, but there is still beauty to be found if we look for it, amid the dissonance of our times.” Hilton explains.

Lisa Hilton’s new album, Transparent Sky, is available everywhere September 3rd, 2021 – Pre-Order August 3, 2021

About Lisa Hilton

Lisa Kristine Hilton is a distinctive composer of jazz, an acclaimed pianist, a bandleader and producer. Growing up in a small town on California’s central coast, she originally taught herself to play piano with a colored keyboard guide, writing her first simple songs around six years, before beginning studies in classical and twentieth century music starting at the age of eight. In college she switched majors from music, and graduated instead with a degree in art. This art background informs her musical creations: she describes “painting” compositions using improvisation, and harmony or “sculpting” with multiple rhythmic ideas from different cultures. Hilton’s music draws on classical traditions, and twentieth century modernists as well as classic American jazz greats such as Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, and Horace Silver, as well as blues heroes Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. Hilton’s music annually tops the jazz charts and appears on popular shows such as Apple Music’s Pure Jazz Playlist. In the book, “The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today’s Living Legends and Artists of Tomorrow” by Cicily Janus, it states that Hilton has been “compared to some of the best pianists in history.” Noting that the overwhelming majority of music performed in jazz clubs and concert halls today are of compositions written by male musicians, Hilton is outspoken about the importance of presenting, and listening, to music composed by women in these fields as well.

lisa hilton playing piano at the village studios

IN THE STUDIO

August 19, 2020 by Lisa Hilton
Luques Curtis, Recording, Rudy Royston, Social Distancing, Studio

Yep, we did it! We recorded a new jazz album, and it was the culmination of six creative months composing during an unprecedented time in America’s history. Whew!

This year recording new music, like everything else, was different of course. Every studio date seems like a miracle to have the band/engineers/studio/piano all available on the same day. The logistics – more like a complex dance – to find a studio that was open and had good safety procedures in place, were more involved than in the past, but thankfully everything finally came together. I decided on recording at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles this year because they are a top studio, (with an illustrious history), and also have approval from the City of Los Angeles to remain open despite any lock down in California. In addition, they were very kind to me during my evacuation from the Woolsey fire almost two years ago, and I like to work with kind people.

Despite all the preliminary work, scheduling, and pandemic precautions, once we enter the studio, everything changes for musicians. We are able to focus 100% on our art, our instruments, the moment, and sound itself. You do hear stories about musicians having difficult times in recording sessions, and there is stress to get things “right”, but I love the act of creating music in the moment with the highest quality sound. Awesome bandmates Rudy Royston and Luques Curtis, top engineer Chandler Harrod, (with Karl Wingate assisting), perfect studio acoustics, and of course, the big nine foot Steinway D that was loaned to me for recording. (This year I was told the piano was a favorite of film composer John Williams – well, it was fabulous!)

So, how did we do? Hmmm… I have a rule that I don’t “judge” until I’m all done. In the studio your senses and emotions are heightened: I think the worst thing you can do is judge under those kinds of conditions, because the tendency is to think it’s the best thing, or the worst thing you’ve ever heard! So in the studio we play at the top of our abilities with freedom from over-analyzing. Those are the euphoric moments for me – when the music comes alive after months of thought, trials, and efforts magically blossoming in real time into a creation we will share with the world. To say that it is an incredibly cool experience is a huge understatement – those are the moments the composer lives for – it feels like the birth of music itself.

Enjoy these last couple weeks of summer,
Lisa

 

close up images of lisa hilton at the village studios with her bandmates and recording engineer

A standing ovation with Luques Curtis, JD Allen, and Rudy Royston.

D I V E R S I T Y

June 22, 2020 by Lisa Hilton
Carnegie Hall, Diversity, J.D. Allen, Lisa Hilton, Luques Curtis, Rudy Royston

The history of jazz, born in America’s south, is also the history of race in our country, and the talented and determined individuals that contributed to our culture. Trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk were both attacked by police on different occasions, but unfortunately, I’m sure there were others too.

Pianist, composer, and band leader, Duke Ellington, was famous for having his own train to take his band on tour, but it was a necessity so that they had a place to eat and to stay since many hotels/restaurants were for white people only.

Yet Miles, Monk and Ellington still continue to be some of the greatest and most revered artists in the history of our country – Duke Ellington was even commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II to compose specifically for her, a lovely piece he entitled The Queen’s Suite.

Our jazz legends have enriched our culture and continue to inspire today. We are all familiar with their names: Miles, Monk and Ellington we easily recognize, but so are “Count” Basie, Nat “King” Cole, Louis “Pops” Armstrong, John Coltrane, Art Tatum, Charlie “Bird” Parker and Billie “Lady Day” Holiday: all household names today after fifty years or more. Their talents, as well as many others, have contributed not only to jazz worldwide, but to the culture and history of America.

These composers, performers and musicians create pride in our country’s cultural contributions in music, and are proof that Black lives have contributed and mattered throughout the history of America. Who are tomorrow’s legends? Hah, that’s a tricky one, right?

Since my first band, I have always reached out to today’s jazz luminaries to record and tour with, and I’ve been lucky they’ve joined me. I’ve always looked for great musicians from a variety of backgrounds because diversity of ideas naturally stimulates creativity. So today I’d like to share these modern day leaders – some of the most talented musicians and composers today – there are a lot of great memories we have shared over the years!

Thanks for letting me share some of my favorite musicians!

– Lisa

lisa hilton with her band members

Jazz everywhere!

May 10, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Lisa Hilton, Luques Curtis, Rudy Royston, twenty first century jazz
composer, jazz, lisa hilton, piano

Hello, Hello,

I hope all is going well for you.  I just got back myself from a bit of travel – a meeting at Berklee College in Boston for the Presidents Advisory Committee, a solo show in Chicago and then a trio show with Luques Curtis and Rudy Royston (see photos above), at the Smithsonian in Washington.  Great shows and audiences – and TERRIFIC warm weather in DC – hot even!  Then a vacay in Japan and a short trip to Santa Barbara, but I’m home and cozy in Malibu again. I loved the shows and it is always great to play with Luques and Rudy, (JD had a show at Dizzy’s the same night and couldn’t make it).  What really inspired me in Japan, was that I heard American jazz EVERYWHERE – in restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, vintage shops – every place I went -imagine jazz everywhere! It felt like the soundtrack to my life!
We are very very thankful for the hundreds and hundreds of radio stations, streaming services, playlists, and podcasts that have supported ESCAPISM – still on two radio charts after 4 months – thank you!  So wonderful!  I got to do interviews for radio from London to Atlantic too.  Hoping  Hot Summer Samba becomes a theme song for this summer!
We have been very happy about all the nice reviews and encouragement for ESCAPISM too. Lots of photos here from my Los Angles show: “Hilton unlocks dreamy transcendence… “  and a very thoughtful review here on page 53 …”The First Lady of Jazz Piano…” ,  and from Aiding & Abetting – Cruising Underground Culture  “Hilton is a font of creativity, finding almost endless ways to wring new ideas out of the piano, and her band is the perfect combination of side players and solo partners. The grooves here are almost endless.”  
So what’s up now after this busy month?  Setting up Carnegie Hall – January 10th 2019 and SFJazz February 28th 2019 as well as others.  Now is the time to set shows up, so please contact me if you have any good ideas for performances and who to contact, K?  I still have some “music-keeping” tasks – updating my song and copyright lists for my publishing company and online sources – that kind of thing.  But mostly this is the opening of my OFFICIAL COMPOSING SEASON, so I’m back doing what I love to do and wondering what will appear this year?
 
Wishing you a great end of spring!
 
Lisa

ESCAPISM WILL BE OUT DECEMBER 1ST!

November 1, 2017 by Lisa Hilton
Carnegie Hall, Escapism, Gregg August, Horace Silver, J.D. Allen, Jazz, Lisa Hilton, piano, piano jazz, Rudy Royston, Terell Stafford

Enjoy a Night of ESCAPISM!

November 1, 2017 by Lisa Hilton
Carnegie Hall, Escapism, J.D. Allen, Jazz, Luques Curtis, piano, piano jazz, Rudy Royston
Luques Curtis

You Are Invited….

December 23, 2014 by Lisa Hilton
Ben Street, Blog, Carnegie Hall, Ingrid Jensen, J.D. Allen, Jazz, Lisa Hilton, piano jazz, Rudy Royston

LISA_HILTON_HORIZONS

Happy Holidays To YOU!

December 23, 2014 by Lisa Hilton
Ben Street, Blog, Carnegie Hall, Ingrid Jensen, J.D. Allen, Lisa Hilton, piano jazz, Rudy Royston, twenty first century jazz
Ben Street, Carnegie Hall, Ingrid Jensen, JD Allen, lisa hilton, piano jazz, Rudy Royston

Christmas 2013 with Ricky

Hopefully you are making it through the Holiday Season well so far and I hope that you soon will have some time to relax with your loved ones.  I’m sharing this photo of my little 14 year old Italian greyhound Ricky from last year – I’m thankful for every year he’s still with me – he seems to get sweeter as he ages!

I’ve been the elf around here after my piano time.  It’s been so busy that this year I’m waiting until the last minute to do the cookie baking, which means that I’m going to be pushed for time very soon – sound familiar?  I’ve been  preparing for our performance at Carnegie Hall January 11, 2015 at 2pm – hope you can come!  (Please pass the link on if you have friends that might be interested).   I’ll be there with JD Allen on tenor sax, Ingrid Jensen on trumpet, Ben Street on bass and Rudy Royston on drums  If you’ve never been to a performance at Carnegie before, I think it’s time for you to come, don’t you? :  http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2015/1/11/0200/PM/Lisa-Hilton-and-Friends/   We will be debuting new music from our new 2015 release  H O R I Z O N S which I’m extremely excited about.  Here is the very new video from HORIZONS: The Sky and the Ocean:  http://youtu.be/2WlTblOPs1c  and a solo piece from the album from a live video at Cornell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3B4et-OcDE  When it Rains.

Wishing everyone Holidays filled with riches: love, friendship, family, art, music, nature, and peace,

Lisa

Happy Fall…..

October 18, 2014 by Lisa Hilton
Ben Street, Carnegie Hall, Cornell University, DownBeat Magazine, J.D. Allen, Jazz, Lisa Hilton, piano jazz, Rudy Royston, The Chicago Lighthouse, The Green Mill, twenty first century jazz

imageHi There!

Fall is really here, isn’t it?  I’m excited to tour on the east coast and see some real fall foliage.  Here in SoCal, the only foliage colors are brown from our drought.  I’ll be at The Green Mill Monday Oct 20th at 5:30pm for a benefit for the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired.  http://greenmilljazz.com/events/530pm-800pm-benefit-for-the-chicago-lighthouse/  Please come by for a fun & casual evening for a great cause.  The Green Mill was voted one of the Top Jazz Venues by Down Beat Magazine – you’ll love the vibe there!

I’ll be at Cornell University too – see their screen above with the photo by Steven Lippman.  This is hosted by the University on Wednesday, Oct 29th at 7:30 in Barnes Hall – a historic building with terrific acoustics.  The super radio host, Eric Cohen of WAER/Syracuse will introduce the evening, and I hear there are even refreshments after! Please come if you can: http://events.cornell.edu/event/lisa_hilton

For those of you planning ahead, PLEASE don’t miss our Debut of our new album, H O R I Z O N S at Weil Hall at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, January 11th, 2015 in NYC.  I’ll be there with JD Allen on tenor sax, Rudy Royston on drums and Ben Street on bass.  If you’ve never been to a performance at Carnegie before, I think it’s time to try and make one, don’t you?  I’m really excited to share the NEW music then:  http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2015/1/11/0200/PM/Lisa-Hilton-and-Friends/

And for those who’ve been thinking about heading to Las Vegas, come May 15 or 16th 2015!   http://www.thesmithcenter.com/events/dates/2015-05-15/

Good news – on the pre-Grammy Ballot our release is representing great engineers and for best jazz improvised solo from “Kaleidoscope”.  Wish us luck please!   You can listen here: https://soundcloud.com/lisahiltonmusic

Lastly – so many challenges in our world right now, but I wish you and those around your peace and health and a Happy Halloween too!

Take care,

Lisa

www.lisahiltonmusic.com
P.O. Box 6368, Malibu, CA 90264

Recent Posts

  • Life Is Beautiful
  • Life is Beautiful Q+A
  • Producing Creativity
  • Happy Holidays!
  • Thankfully… A Holiday Discount!

© 2022 LISA HILTON MUSIC® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Log In To Your Account