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Q&A With the Creative Team for the OASIS Video and Photography

December 7, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog
Creative, jazz, Oasis, piano

James Grant/Director, Emily Ruth Roche/Actress, Aaron Regan/ Photographer

  • OASIS OFFICIAL VIDEO
  • FOR DIRECTOR JAMES GRANT: @SpaceKidJames 

    Q: The Lisa Hilton OASIS video has been affecting people very positively and is incredibly creative.  How long did the video shoot take and how large was your crew?   I’m glad the video has been received so well – it was a great opportunity to experiment with effects and create a world within another.  We only had a window of about 3 hours in which the lighting in and around the pool was ideal for both principal photography and the effects we employed. I tend to prefer working with a small crew of trusted friends and colleagues – for Oasis, I had the pleasure of working with my usual core group of four: myself, my Director of Photography Blake Gaytan, Camera Assistant Sam Shikiar, and Production Coordinator Courtney Cohen… and Emily of course!

    Q: You must have been in the pool too, right?  It must have been cold – how did you manage? I actually didn’t get in the pool, my Director of Photography, Blake, was the underwater photographer on Oasis; I was able to watch the wireless feed from the camera at the edge of the pool. So while I wasn’t actually under the water, I was watching what he was shooting in all the underwater sequences. Blake and I have actually done a number of underwater shoots prior to Oasis, and we both love the underwater aesthetic, so we both jumped at the chance to try out some new techniques that we made possible with the underwater camera rig and housing we used. Blake had a diving mask and snorkel as well as a weighted dive belt and wet suit that allowed him to sink below and around Emily to capture the surreal angles that are showcased in the video. Safety was paramount and we were all standing by and ready to jump in and give assistance if necessary, but both Blake and Emily were absolute professionals and nailed the choreography that emerged between them while underwater without a hitch.  

    Q: What was the concept and experience you were trying to create? Early in the pre-production talks with Lisa, we knew we wanted the pool to represent the subconscious and the interaction between Lisa and the swimmer to embody an ethereal coexistence. That’s why you’re never really able to identify Emily in the video – Lisa and I wanted her to remain enigmatic – to represent the escape that an oasis provides to a restless mind. I think that the piano is where Lisa finds her oasis, so during the editing process I really tried to represent the world that she creates in the song as a dance between the polar worlds of tension and release, fluidity and rigidity… That dance is what I tried to create and extend through the experimental practical effects that we used in the video, which at times escape detection and others are relatively obvious, all by design. 

    Q: Yeah, there were some clever visual ideas you used – can you share some of those? While I don’t want let all of the cats out of the proverbial bag, I will say that several trips to a crystal store were required, as well as many hours testing in a separate pool for some of the practical effects we used in Oasis. Going in, I knew I wanted to experiment with novel approaches to diffraction and reflection. I knew that just shooting underwater without any sort of effect wouldn’t fully convey the subconscious world that Lisa and I wanted to create underwater. I also didn’t want to use any digital effects – I wanted everything to be done in camera. After experimenting with several different undisclosed mediums of diffusion, we settled on three that we used to their full potential throughout the shoot.  

     Q: Emily looks perfect; how did you cast her? Was it difficult to get her to do all the swim moves?  I cannot say enough about how great Emily was to work with in the pool, anything we wanted to try she was absolutely on board with. During the casting process, both Lisa and I knew that a strong swimming ability was an absolute necessity. Swimming tends to quite commonly claimed as a skill, but after emailing back and forth with Emily, she really sold me with her background as both a surfer and a competitive swimmer in Australia.

    FOR ACTRESS/MODEL  Emily Ruth Roche: @EmilyRuthRoche

    Q: You must have had a lot of swimming experience before the Lisa Hilton OASIS video – did you grow up swimming in Australia?  I did! I’ve always been a strong swimmer! In Australia it’s actually a law that every child take swimming lessons at 18 months old. From there I spent a lot of time in the water, from surfing to competitive swimming. 

    Q: Was the director James Grant, specific in what he asked you to do?  Was that difficult to translate his vision underwater while holding your breath? James was a fantastic director! He sent over a vision board pre-shoot, for some inspiration. The board had a ton of pictures of beautiful flowing dresses in the water. He also sent me some great videos that captured the emotion of what he envisioned. As for the breathe holding; I think all the yoga and breathe work I do came in handy, so it wasn’t difficult to stay in the emotional tone he wanted.

    Q: What was the temperature and how long were you in the pool?   Would you do another underwater video, or was that enough? It was a full day of filming – I think in total I was in the water for about 5 hours. Luckily the pool we shot in was heated at a beautifully warm temperature of 85 degrees. I actually loved it! I reapplied sun screen a few times, and got out to warm up a few times. But I wouldn’t hesitate to jump in for another underwater shoot (no pun intended haha).

    Q: You look amazing in the video – were you surprised at how ethereal it looks now that it’s done?  I was blown away at the finished product. It’s always exciting to see the final edit, because you never know what has been seen through the lens. And James absolutely nailed it. I’m very proud to be a part of it!

  • FOR PHOTOGRAPHER/DESIGNER AARON REGAN: @IWouldPut 

    Q: Wow is it unusual to do the photography AND the design on a project – do you normally work that way? Do you think it’s easier or more difficult to do both? Every now and again both seem to align. I was happy with the outcome of the photos, so when it came to designing for Lisa’s album it all came together nicely. Not too sure if it’s easier or difficult, but definitely more fun. Photos and design work so well together.

     Q: What was the idea and concept or vibe you were going for on the album cover and booklet? The title Oasis kind of sums up the concept. I think it’s that place that’s inviting and warm: a place you don’t want to leave.

     Q: Was it difficult shooting the swimmer Emily with a still camera rather than video?  Did you have to get in the water to shoot? I didn’t need to get in the water; I think that could have been cool though! I shot mostly out of focus images of her while she was swimming and tried to get a dreamy look going on. I like how the tones of all the images turned out and how well everything works together with the video and music too.

     Q: Hanging around a pool on a sunny day seems like a pretty good job Aaron – is that a typical day in your creative life? I wouldn’t say a typical day, but from time to time those kind of photo shoots do happen. It’s nice to get outside to work and take photos instead of designing, which I do mostly at the computer.

IT’S BEEN HOT…..

August 13, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Lisa Hilton, piano
jazz, lisa hilton, piano

Hello from the beach!
If the weather’s hot, and the water’s warm… better be sure your music matches!  Here’s a few selections to take your mind off the thermometer:
HEAT WAVE
HOT SUMMER SAMBA
TOO HOT
I’ll be in the studio very very soon…. new music coming before the end of the year….
Stay cool!
Lisa
Award winning jazz composer/pianist
Photos by David Oscar Flores
LisaHiltonMusic.com
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Ahhh….summer!

June 14, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog
Escapism, jazz, JD Allen, Jeremy Pelt, Larry Grenadier, Lewis Nash, lisa hilton, piano jazz

Hello Hello,

I couldn’t resist sending this shot out after I recovered it from an old email -it’s really my favorite band shot of all times!  That’s saxophonist, JD Allen, bassist Larry Grenadier, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and drummer Lewis Nash with me on a rainy day in 2009 in a photo by David Gordon.  The adjectives “hard-working” are normally attached to my name, but you can see very clearly we still have time to enjoy ourselves!  I loved the “Twilight & Blues” recording sessions at Avatar Studios in NYC- Jeremy and JD were really close friends and very fun and upbeat working together.  Lewis is, of course, a legend, and I worked with Larry so long he really did seem like family, and we’re both from California – doesn’t he look like he could be family? (Although it’s JD, who calls me ‘sis’.)

I hope you’re enjoying the beginning of summer – always my favorite time of year – and also my Composing Season – longer days at the piano go perfectly with beach walks and bbq’s if you ask me.  Yes, I’ve got plenty of new music I’m developing and then will record later this summer, for a late 2018 release, and with new bandmates this time around, so I’m excited about what we’ll create.  I, (very surprisingly), got a vacay this year – in Japan – and enjoyed the time off, the culture and, everywhere I went there, the jazz.  Jazz in coffee shops, vintage clothes shops or teeny smoke-filled bars – sounding like the soundtrack to my life.  A great trip!

Still thankful for all the support from everywhere for our album, ESCAPISM – which is still doing well at radio, and currently on one radio chart.  I’m hoping that everyone is playing “Hot Summer Samba!”

I’m also working to set up the tour dates for next year – although the tickets are not on sale, or the listings up yet, here are a few dates, so mark your calendars:

JANUARY 5TH/SATURDAY  ZIPPER HALL/ downtown Los Angeles/ 8 PM – THIS IS MY BIRTHDAY!

JANUARY 10th/THURSDAY WEILL HALL/CARNEGIE HALL/NYC 8 PM

FEBRUARY 28TH/THURSDAY/SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ/8 PM

APRIL 2/TUESDAY/BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS/CHICAGO/ 6PM

Handy Links:

iTunes 

CDBaby

YouTube

Amazon

Enjoy these long days – hopefully filled with sunshine!

Lisa

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

It’s been really nice….

April 4, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Lisa Hilton, piano jazz
composer, jazz, jazz and piano, lisa hilton

Hi there!

Hope you had a nice holiday weekend – I feasted and, I suppose, “Fested” a bit with family and friends but still got a big hike in the Santa Monica Mountains near my home.  Our Spring weather in Cali has been a bit erratic, but we are getting some nice days after all the rain we had. Hope your spring is coming too!

 
Thank you to the artists at Junior Blind of America/WayFinder Family Services for the nice oversized card!  How kind – it was fun to be back on their Los Angeles Campus after a terrific show at San Francisco Jazz – I love that venue!  Thank you to all my Malibu friends, family and followers who showed up at Pepperdine University for my performance too – it was so nice to see you there!  You can read about it here. “At the hands of pianist and composer Lisa Hilton, the piano is anything but black & white….”  
I’m heading out quite soon to donate my time to Berklee College of Music in Boston then I head to Chicago to play at Buddy Guys Legends Club a week from today – 4/10 @ 5pm.  PLEEZE come – it’s really fun – and great food too – I always have the grilled chicken salad.  That is my last solo piano show of the season, but you also get to hear the jazz vocalist Nikki George who will open the show at about 5pm.  (Come early for best seats!)  Then off to DC for my last show with my trio with Rudy Royston and Luques Curtis on 4/12 at the Smithsonian and it’s….. FREE!  Yep! THE SMITHSONIAN/ Nan McEvoy Auditorium Washington DC 6PM  FREE!   Who can resist a FREE show during cherry blossom season?  If you can’t come to one of these shows, please forward this info to your Chicago friends and family and anyone in the DC area or who might be in town for the cherry blossom festival. btw, if there’s a radio station or other media in the Chicago or DC areas that is interested, I’d love to do a quick interview for the upcoming shows, so please let me know if you’re interested – I just did one today actually.
 
For those of you who like to plan ahead… Carnegie 2019 has a date: 1/10/ 2019/ Thursday at WEILL HALL AT CARNEGIE HALL/ 8PM/ NYC .  I have already heard that people want to attend that one, so mark your calendars so you can plan your weekend tickets for shows ahead of time.  Just in case you need them, here are easy links for ESCAPISM:
iTunes and Amazon
I want to also thank everyone around the world for your support of ESCAPISM from A-Z: All Jazz Radio to ZMR!  Hundreds and hundreds of radio stations, internet radio, syndicated radio, streaming, and playlists have supported my 20th release – so it’s a real “overnight success!”  ESCAPISM has spent almost 3 months right around the Top 10 on two different radio charts.  And great reviews from everywhere: Russia, Spain, Argentina, Australia, Africa…  and all over the United States and Canada.  Thank you all!  We are all really thankful for your continued support – we very appreciate it very much.
I’m looking forward to whatever will come next in my upcoming creative season…. stay tuned and take care,
Lisa
Lisa Hilton
Award winning jazz composer/pianist
LisaHiltonMusic.com
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Time for some ESCAPISM, right?

March 14, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Escapism, Lisa Hilton, piano
composer, FREE, jazz, lisa hilton, Luques Curtis, piano, Rudy Royston

It’s  A L M O S T Spring!

Not quite, but it’s almost here!  I know we have needed the rain and cooler weather, but I’m literally thinking about ESCAPISM, (or maybe it’s Spring Breakism), right now!  Doesn’t a warm, sandy (dry) spot sound good today?   But for now, I’m just about ready to spend time at my beloved piano, thinking about the upcoming nights of ESCAPISM – the performances that is – that are coming up for our release.  We are NUMBER 8 on TWO radio charts!  YIPPEE!  We love that!  Please try and come out to one of these last 3 shows – I really can’t promise any sandy beaches, but I definitely can guarantee you a Hot Summer Samba!  Come on, you deserve an little ESCAPISM don’t you?

ENJOY A NIGHT OF PURE ESCAPISM:

3/23 RAITT HALL/PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY/ Malibu, CA/ 8PM   This is a solo piano show in an intimate space with great acoustics on my “home court” – the first theatre I performed – in so it should be a really nice show.  Come early and have a bite or a drink locally at: Ollo, Tradinoi, Taverna Tony, Cafe Habana or Bui Sushi – all close by and delicious.  If you can get to the theater before 8:30 you can stop by the very nice Weissman Museum next door too:  I’m very excited about this show and would love to say hi to everyone after and you never know who might show up!

4/10  BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS/ 5PM 700 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL This is a fun, casual yearly event to benefit the Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually impaired. And let’s not forget, that we have run into Mr. Buddy himself on more than one occasion there which is always a thrill too!  This starts early with jazz vocalist Nikki George, and then I will come on a bit later.  It’s over by 8 so there’s still plenty of time to head out after to your next spot, right?  A nice club right off Michigan Avenue makes it an easy stop too.

4/12  THE SMITHSONIAN/ Nan McEvoy Auditorium/Museum of American Art, Washington DC 6PM  FREE!   with Luques Curtis/bass, Rudy Royston/drums  I highly recommend this show too – the last of the tour and with an awesome band too!  THIS IS COMPLETELY FREE because it’s the Smithsonian, so come on, and come out!  Or come for a long weekend as it’s Cherry Blossom Festival time!  Come early and enjoy the beauty of our nations capital and the finest museums along with a free show.

Just a couple of great reviews here – we love the encouragement and support!  “A Great Escape.”  Jazz Weekly “The cure for winter blues.” WDCE Radio “Escapism is a beautiful recording project”. Anima Jazz/Italy  “A bit elegant, a bit adventurous, very clear and crisp sound, a good good release”. WUWF/Florida  “Lisa Hilton is amazing!” BONDI RADIO FM Australia  “Hilton’s music is picturesque and impressionistic…the pianist has excellent technique.” Downbeat  “Hilton is a pure original… she has a magical ability to make her piano tell compelling stories. Certainly on Escapism her facility for make her instrument talk and sing and wear its emotions on its proverbial sleeve is immense and you can hear this almost immediately as the recording begins. There is so much drama in her playing that one finds oneself constantly at the edge of the seat…  She seems to be able to make her instrument a living, breathing thing.  This is an album to die for.”  Jazz da Gama/ Canada “Truly unique compositions, flawlessly played.  Hilton & company are relentlessly in search of excellence, while achieving it with a frequency that leaves one in jaw-dropping awe.”  Hugh Carson, KVNF Radio

Be sure to look for our music on SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC, YOUTUBE, AMAZON or any other source you use for listening at home/work/car or shop @ iTunes:    or most online stores. Whenever you can, share the show info with friends, or a YouTube Video or write a nice review on Amazon or follow on the links below – these small acts are very kind and encouraging.  Art, culture, music and live music are all important to our community, our country and our world, and your support is always appreciated!

Where ESCAPISM began….

March 13, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Escapism, Jazz, Lisa Hilton
jazz, JD Allen, lisa hilton, piano, Rudy Royston

Hello Hello,
I am thrilled at the support this week for our album, ESCAPISM!  #8 on the JazzWeek chart (that posted March 8/Women’s Appreciation Day!), and #8 on the ZMR chart too!  That is so wonderful!  Thank you very much!  We are appreciative of this encouraging news.  Thank you!
The photo above is of my new studio in the breakfast nook of my new (but vintage) home a short walk from the beach in Malibu, and close by hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains – this is where all the ESCAPISM music was composed and developed from May-August last year.  Just before I moved in May, I already had done the little embryos of the tunes, but the actual development of the compositions, and all the coloring, happened in a fairly short time last summer.  You can barely make out the iconic shot of Miles Davis on the left in a photo by my friend Ken Franckling, and you can’t quite see another classic shot of Monk at Monterey Jazz fest at the top of the bookshelves, (filled with music books and jazz musician bios).  Miles is my muse that represents soul, innovation, and perhaps perseverance. Monk is my muse of hard work (since he’s sweating at the piano), creativity, and someone I consider to be a piano giant.  You also can’t quite see photos of me with the classical giants of today: pianists/friends Yuja Wang and Lang Lang. All the books and music books represent the greatest composers in the world from Bach to Bartok to Basie. On the right is a painting by an ex of mine, and 2 black & white photos (nudes) I took in college when I was an art student.  It looks a bit messy because it’s a work day and I had just moved in.  You can see the ferns and tropical foliage that influenced Hot Summer Samba – originally that tune was going to be a slow blues, but it was a gorgeous summer day, the AC wasn’t working and somehow, the song just moved itself into a hot Latin number!  The view that I have in the opposite direction inspired Zero Gravity – just this feeling of summer at it’s best – a floating feeling inspired by palm trees.
Sitting in my new studio, filled with the lightness of summer, I wanted to create music that would lift spirits around the globe – to remember that beauty is still everywhere if only we can remember to look.  That by lifting listeners energy maybe we can communicate the strength and goodness that cannot ever be taken from us.  This is where the tracks from ESCAPISM were developed.   I wanted a way to capture the great energy I was feeling and communicate it to others, so they can feel uplift too and bring that into their lives.  It’s just amazing and really cool that so many people have embraced the album.  (In fact, I am hoping that ESCAPISM will be the OFFICIAL JAZZ ALBUM of SPRING BREAK this year!  Hah!)  To me, sitting there at my piano IS Spring Break – it’s ESCAPISM or the ultimate vacay even.  I start with a little melody, or perhaps a groove and then add a little bit and a little more, and a few hours later I return from what feels like a visit far, far away – all while sitting with my piano in a breakfast nook!  In August I took the music to Avatar studio with my long time friends Gregg August, Rudy Royston and of course JD Allen.  I explained each tune and the energy and inspiration and then we recorded – no rehearsal ever – a la Miles Davis.  But I’m always a bit nervous – what will they think of these new tunes – my new “babies”?  (And I am asking them to play a waltz on Zero Gravity even!)  Of course they are professional and won’t comment, but ….??  A recording studio is not the place for indecision or insecurity though, it’s the place for committing to the ideas and creating the leadership to create great music, while hoping for the best. When we where done, what was their favorite piece?  Zero Gravity – yep – the waltz!
 
Thank you for the support and wishing you a great week!
Lisa

OH WHAT WONDERFUL SUPPORT! WE LOVE IT! THANK YOU!

February 20, 2018 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Escapism, Jazz, Lisa Hilton, piano
composer, jazz, lisa hilton, piano

Thank you, thank you to radio, streaming, music services and playlists everywhere around the world for your support for our album.  We love and appreciate your support!

ESCAPISM RADIO REVIEWS

 

“The stark beauty and flowing movement of the (Mojave Moon video) images could hardly suit the music better.” Nate Chinen/WBGO

MELTDOWN from ESCAPISM was featured December 2017 on the popular State of Jazz Playlist/SPOTIFY

 “Hilton is superb as usual. Clear ideas and fine dexterity.” Modern Jazz Today – syndicated

  “I have to just say ZERO GRAVITY is just perfect.  My favorite tune.  I dub it a standard for the new era of jazz”. Todd Steed/WUOT

 “Nice beat and beautiful ballads – this is what I like.” Evert Radio /Netherlands/syndicated

 “The cure for winter blues.” WDCE/VA

“Truly unique compositions, flawlessly played.  Regardless of the tempo, an inherent momentum informs Hilton’s music.  Her left -hand has the pounding momentum and synergy of overtones that is so incredible.  To say nothing of the right- hand improvising on a theme or taking off into absolutely unexpected and unpredictable places in such a beautiful way.  Hilton & company are relentlessly in search of excellence, while achieving it with a frequency that leaves one in jaw-dropping awe.”  Hugh “Hurricane” Carson, KVNF

 “Escapism is a record that confirms the professional skills of pianist Lisa Hilton, capable of fusing technical skills and poetic sensibility, and succeeding in this way in keeping the listener always involved and attentive. A beautiful recording project”. Anima Jazz/Italy

“What a nice find – really like the sound of this. A bit elegant, a bit adventurous, very clear and crisp sound, good good release”. WUWF/Florida

 “Lisa Hilton is amazing!” BONDI RADIO FM Australia

 “Peace, tranquillity and upbeat energy are all aspects of ESCAPISM, pianist Lisa Hilton has combined all these elements in her album.She says she wants to provide upliftment and relief – a place where listeners can be energized and rejuvenated – she has achieved that.”  2BACR FM/Sydney, Australia

 “HOT SUMMER SAMBA sparkles – her jazz has muscle – an escape indeed!”  Jazz & Poetry Radio /France

“What a treat – I’m along for the ride!”  CFRU/Canada

“The music really cooks – these tracks are a keeper.”  WHCJ/GA

“Nice Work.”  Favorite track: TOO HOT WMNF/Florida

 “Flowing tones – cool! Gydnia Radio/Poland

“Poetic beauty.” WOJB/Wisconsin

“A good mix of swinging and contemplative stuff.” WXPN/PA

“Always good tunes from Lisa Hilton.”  WRTC/Connecticut

“Escapism is a breath of fresh, uplifting, positive air.” WGMC/NY

“A super jazz CD – she’s got rhythm for sure.”  WHFC/WI

“Dig that groove- got that classic 60’s jazz feel.” WAIF/Cincinatti/OH

“Very easy to get into and love.” Beehive Candy Radio/UK

“Great album covering many styles.” DJJazzmadass/Frankfurt, Germany

“Hot.” MGZC Radio/North Carolina

“This is music to escape from daily problems. Beautiful piano playing &  horn players.” AfterDinnerJazz Playlist

“Good solid jazz”. Cool Jazz 100/GA

“Very good.” CKMN/Canada

“Has a good clean sound.” 3MBR Radio/South Australlia

“I like Lisa Hilton and it’s a pleasure for me to discover this.” CKIA/Canada

“All tracks from ESCAPISM receiving airplay on Jazz Flight.”  WQLN/PA

“I’m gonna ‘stay’ with Hilton!”  Outasight Radio

“Just a delight to listen to.” MAD FM/New Zealand

“Grooving.” KNDD/Seattle, WA

“Nice & cool.”  CKHA/Canada

“Always love Hilton’s excellent sounds. Always great radio play.”  WAWL/TN

“A wonderful talent.” CHUO Radio/Canada

 “Another beautiful performance by Ms. Hilton.” Radio Video/Belfast, Ireland

“A new & excellent record from one of my favorite jazz pianists!” Urquiza FM/Argentina

“Refreshing to hear REAL musicians doing their things. Very nice.”   Tameside Radio/UK

“A great piano player and musician. A very sensitive touch. You feel the emotions of her music. It is an honor for me to play something from this album.” Radio 794/Netherlands

 “Lisa does it again with lovely cool classics & swinging interpretations.” Soul & Jazz /UK

“Excellent, feet bmovin’ tunes. That’s real Swing.”  ECMA-Radio/Austria

 “Superbe.” Radio Krimi/Chamonix, France

 “Good!” Radio MUZKOM/Moscow, Russia

“LOVE IT!”  All Jazz Radio/South Africa

“Great for our jazz show.” RDU FM/New Zealand

“Another winner from Lisa Hilton.” Aloha Joe/Hawaiian Radio Network

 “Love this album.” Aussie Grown Radio/Australia

“Very, very good.” The Network Radio/Italy

“Definitely good and engaging.”  Radio Stereo/Italy

 “Straight up traditional piano jazz with a master on the keyboard.” WMWM/MA

“Enviable variety of creativity in her albums.” Radio Cazkolik/Turkey

 “Bright, energetic, thoughtful.” CILU/Canada

“Love it!!”  94/1fm/Macedonia

 “Great jazz for my radio show, congrats on the great music by Lisa Hilton.” CKSJ/ Canada

 “Very good album.” Urban Jazz Radio/UK

 “Perfect for our Jazz channel.” RadioAvemue.com/Canada

 “A superb jazz album, very nice!” Dr. Best at Radio Z 95.8 FM/Germany

 “Cool tunes.” BBC Radio Gloucestershire / Global Radio 1 / Energy FM/UK

“Hilton has a fluid and often highly rhythmic style, that reflects both her classical and jazz chops.  The variety on this disc reflects Hilton’s reach and command from beautiful ballads to jazzy swing and even a few steps toward the outside, but always fully under her command.” /WTJU/VA

“Nice sounds – I like it.”  Radio Waves International/France

“A great album –a pleasure for our listeners.” RADIO RIVE SUD FM 103/Canada

“Great atmosphere!”  Radio Bubble/Greece

 “PURE BLISS and soothing joy – an album of distinction.” Spellbound Radio/New Zealand

“Groovy, straight ahead jazz – no compromising.” WSJR/PA

“Hilton’s music leads you into the state of Escapism with the joyous warmth of her beautiful composition and wondrous musical interactions with her bandmates
-this is must have music.” Jazz Zone/Canada

“Lisa Hilton continues to impress! Mad FM/New Zealand

“Very tasty.” Israel Broadcast Authority

“Dope” Mixify.com

“VERY NICE – a Horace Silver spirit with a touch  of Messengers- super cool! Radio Activ/France

“Definitely cool jazz – dig it!”  WAIF/OH

“This is really lovely stuff – glad to hear it’s still being done like this.” Something Else Radio/Barcelona, Spain

“Lots of beautiful playing here.” WECI/IN

“Great album.”  The Sound Lab/syndicated/UK

“Super.” Locos Por El Jazz Radio/Dominican Republic

“Throughout the album we will navigate the foam of jazz mastered and served with passion. A successful album that will be a milestone in Lisa Hilton’s discography.” Cot Sud 90.3/Paris, France

“BEAUTIFUL.” Radio Reverb/UK

“Excellent playing as always from Lisa Hilton. Good stuff!”  Phuture Motion/UK

 “Inspired arrangements, subtle yet powerful solos, a variety of moods beautifully expressed, and stunning production.”  Groovalizacion / Multicult FM/ Berlin

“I like it…TOO HOT has a good vibe and I like MELTDOWN too.” JazzRadioDC

“Nice sound.  Will feature on a future WORLD OF JAZZ podcast.” World of Jazz Podcast/Analogue Trash Radio

“cool.” DJ Purple Rabbit/Phonic 106.8 fm/UK

“Great album – a pleasure for our listeners.” CHAA Radio/Canada

“Nice tracks – a journey in harmonics.” CAMPUS RADIO/France

“Steeped in the classics, but timeless – great sound.” KFAI/MN

“The Album ESCAPISM- it’s just the best ! Every time Hilton brings out a new album the bar is raised another couple of notches.  I just love this.”   2Maxfm/Australia  

“Rip roaring jazz with cerebral depth.  Bridges between spiritual, free and hard bop with the greatest of ease. Superb.” DJ Tomas: Google Music/SF Weekly, ForwardEver

 

 

 

December 1, 2017 by Lisa Hilton
Blog, Escapism, Jazz, Lisa Hilton, twenty first century jazz
composer, Gregg August, jazz, jazz and piano, JD Allen, lisa hilton, piano, Rudy Royston
Composer Lisa Hilton Escapism Album Cover by Justin Bettman

Lisa K. Hilton Photo by Justin Bettman.

Happy Holidays, (or HOLIDAZE as the case may be),

Just in time for the Holidays my CD Escapism releases DECEMBER 1st!  Yeah! My 20th release in 20 years!  And yes, I do feel a wee bit overworked, but euphoric too.  It is my passion, and I always feel extremely grateful when a new one is released – it really does feel a bit like a new child that you hope goes out into the world and makes a difference in others lives. This CD has myself on piano with JD Allen again on tenor sax, Gregg August on bass, Rudy Royston on drums and Terell Stafford on trumpet.  Each CD has a different musical theme and ESCAPISM is about dealing with the challenges in life today by savoring the beauty and uplifting moments that are still there around us. You can get an idea of the energy of the music by the track titles: HOT SUMMER SAMBA, MELTDOWN, ANOTHER EVERYDAY ADVENTURE, TOO HOT, ON A CLEAR DAY, MOJAVE MOON, ZERO GRAVITY, ESCAPE VELOCITY BLUES, 29 PALMS, and UTOPIA CORNUCOPIA.  Here is the just out video that was filmed in Joshua tree this month called Mojave Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lz8GApePLc  Please share the video around!

CDs are available here my website and I also have sheet music and downloads for sale. The CDs are great as hostess gifts, teacher gifts, co-worker or “last minute” gifts. http://lisahiltonmusic.com/shop-1/   Of course you can always buy on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/escapism/id1300363720 or Amazon too: https://www.amazon.com/Escapism-Lisa-Hilton/dp/B075ZB7L5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511235882&sr=8- If you do get the CD and like it, please write a quick review on Amazon to help us out!

It’s still really early but here are a few reviews already out:

“Escapism blows open your mind and ears….this is a hot, happening date that charts a new course for pianist Hilton.  Tasty jamming throughout.  Well done.”  Midwest Record 

“Hilton is excitingly edgy during “Another Everyday Adventure” while showing her swinging digits on “Meltdown.” Her compositions are impressive… her own reading of “On A Clear Day,” is wonderfully dreamy. A Great Escape.”  Jazz Weekly

 “Hilton’s breadth of creativity and range of ideas are astounding as she reveals the virtuosity of her pianism, musicality and artful sound.  Lisa Hilton has a lot to say. So listen.  And then listen again.”  Sounds of Timeless Jazz

 “Truly unique compositions, flawlessly played.  Regardless of the tempo, an inherent momentum informs Hilton’s music.  Her left -hand has the pounding momentum and synergy of overtones that is so incredible.  To say nothing of the right- hand improvising on a theme or taking off into absolutely unexpected and unpredictable places in such a beautiful way.  Hilton & company are relentlessly in search of excellence, while achieving it with a frequency that leaves one in jaw-dropping awe.”  Hugh “Hurricane” Carson, KVNF radio

“Hilton’s approach is fresh and uninhibited, taking musical paths less trodden and using expressive and unique chords.”  Dee Dee McNeil/Musical Memoirs Jazz Journal

“A piano that seduces & captivates; a true passion in motion from the exquisite pianist Lisa Hilton.” Actual Jazz/Uruguay

Hoping You a Wonderful Holiday Season!

Lisa
Twitter: @lisahiltonmusic

Instagram.com/LisaHiltonMusic
Facebook:LisaHiltonMusic

Wonderful Reviews for “Day & Night” CD!

July 1, 2017 by Lisa Hilton
Day & Night, Jazz Times, JazzWeek, piano, piano jazz
composer, jazz, jazz and piano, jazz appreciation month, JazzWeek, piano

REVIEWS FOR DAY & NIGHT

“Closer scrutiny reveals nuanced choices and numerous unforeseen turns. Hilton, brings an emotionalism to the simplest of ideas; layers of depth appear when you least expect them.”  Jeff Tamarkin/Jazz times

“Fantastic new CD from Lisa Hilton. We love her version of Begin The Beguine.” Toppy Jazz the #1 Jazz Station in Europe

“Solo piano jazz…Lisa Hilton owns this art brilliantly: soft touch, subtle but very significant swing, a deep connection with the jazz tradition – especially the blues, and of course the beauty of the execution.” Jazz Quad/Russia

“Hilton returns with another CD of solo piano, beautifully played and expressive.” KZSU Radio Stanford University (#1 at the station)

“DAY & NIGHT allows Lisa Hilton to keep the spotlight for herself, and she does not disappoint. She has both the chops and soul to keep you constantly listening.” Straight No Chaser podcast with Jeffrey Siegel

“Rich with elegance and energy, with refined technique, performances & interesting improvisation.”AnimaJxpazz/Italy

“Hilton’s playing is quite lovely.” WTJU Radio

“Beautiful – I’m speechless 5 out of 5 rating.” SURF RADIO/Hossegor, France

“One of my favorite jazz pianists .”  FM URIQUIZA/Argentina

“Lovely Album!  Some of the nicest music I’ve heard this year.” WUNH Radio

“Hilton’s DAY& NIGHT is her best yet!”  2MAXFM/AUSTRALIA

“Straight and well produced solo piano – well done!”  WRTC/Bob Parzych

“I have liked this artist for many years.” CKIA/Quebec City/Canada

“Hilton’s music is sweet and full of life.” REFRESHING JAZZ/Hilo, Hawaii

“This is an impressive album… Hilton paints her masterpieces with deeply felt inspiration. The intensity of Hilton’s playing is unfettered, through wave after wave of inspired improvisation, where the feverish worship at the altar of originality is one extraordinary composition after another. The composers’ universe is at its most expansive in the profoundly beautiful and brooding masterpiece, “Dark Sky Day” which seems to meld surrealism and impressionism in the grand manner”.   JazzdaGama/Canada

“I was immediately drawn into her music…it takes my breath away.”  WGCH

“Virtuosity aside, Hilton has imbued this succession of songs with so much nuance – so much extension of incredibly phrased riffs – that take the song places that are so unexpected that one is left simply awestruck by beauty”.  Hugh Carson/KVNF Radio

“Outstanding.  The recording and production of the album is impeccable.”  No Solo Jazz/Madrid

“Beautiful sound.” BondiFM NSW/Australia                  

“Keyboard lust.” MGZC Radio/NC

“Expressive, eloquent compositions and playing.” Will Call/Grey Lock Glass Podcast Network

“Fully in command of her instrument, Hilton’s touch varies from deep, plush velvet to electrifying extended trills, glissandos and runs up and down the piano keyboard.” MainlyPiano.com

For Day & Night “Hilton delves into her own songbook to create more deep brush strokes to her works of art.  A strong addition to an already impressive portfolio.”  George Harris/JazzWeekly

“Hilton is in player in full command of the nuances of her instrument.  Her approach is a welcome expanse of dynamics and tonal variety, enabling her to conjure aural pictures in a richly impressionistic style. Memorably resonant original songs…. and gentle pianistic fireworks.”  Hothouse Jazz Guide

“Letting it fly with just jazz piano ace Lisa Hilton front & center, you really get a chance to appreciate what a killer pianist she is. Tasty stuff that’s a great centerpiece to her canon.”  Midwest Record

“Pure passion in motion…”  Jazz Quarterly: Taste Maker Honors

“Day & Night just might be the tonic this nation needs…everyday treasures that strengthen the bonds of humankind are intrinsic to the music of Lisa Hilton.”   AXS/Carol Banks Weber

“Hilton explores music as art and paints texture and color through jazz approaches.  Her originals convey many of Cole Porter’s compositional integrity.”  Sounds of Timeless Jazz/Paula Edelstein

“Soothing yet complex solo piano music.  Hilton likes to spread the wealth of her influences from the simplistic one-note three-times-fast like Count Basie or the meanderings of the complex jazzer Horace Silver.” Classical Lite

“It takes a very talented and confident artist to record a complete album as a soloist. In the spotlight Hilton’s  fingers race around the keys, demanding the best from all the notes.” Musical Memoirs Jazz Blog/Dee Dee McNeil

#1 Stanford University KZSU Radio Jazz Chart

SoloPiano.com 2016 Jazz Album of the Year Runner Up

ZMR.com 2017 #6 Radio Chart

WICR #20 Radio Jazz Chart

TOP 22 JAZZWEEK CHART

 

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