piano jazz Archives - Lisa Hilton Music

Ahhh….summer!

June 14, 2018 by Lisa Hilton

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:

Enjoy these long days – hopefully filled with sunshine!

Lisa

Escapism Press Reviews

February 7, 2018 by Lisa Hilton

Blog, Category 1

composer, Gregg August, jazz and piano, JD Allen, lisa hilton, piano jazz, Rudy Royston, Terell Stafford

Lisa Hilton/piano

JD Allen/sax, Terell Stafford/trumpet, Gregg August/bass, Rudy Royston/drums

“Hilton’s music is picturesque and impressionistic…the pianist has excellent technique.” Downbeat

“Pianist Lisa Hilton has left an impressive creative footprint…Escapism continues her probing investigation of the American jazz landscape. Hilton has a knack for distillation, which is reducing music to its essences: harmony, melody, tempo, rhythm.” C. Michael Bailey/All About Jazz

“Hilton’s writing is quite expansive.” Cadence Magazine

“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

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… A Great Escape.” Jazz Weekly

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

“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.” Actual Jazz/Uruguay “Artistic entertainment with splendid moments.” Vento Azul/Japan

“Great collection from Lisa Hilton – a really nice diversity.” The Music Korner Magazine “Lisa Hilton is top drawer.” Don Martin/Style Quarterly

“Fantastic!” Bebop Spoken Here

“Great energy, great creativity and broad range.” Jazz HQ

“This is a truly original musician with her own creative style and it is not surprising she is considered one of the leading pianists in the American jazz mainstream.” JazzQuad Russia

THANK YOU RADIO EVERYWHERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

February 21, 2017 by Lisa Hilton

Blog, Day & Night, Jazz, JazzWeek, Lisa Hilton, piano, piano jazz

jazz, lisa hilton, piano jazz

I just wanted to SHOUT a very grateful THANK YOU RADIO for your incredible support for DAY & NIGHT. I was composing for this last spring right after I broke my shoulder (all recovered now), and so there is an extra sense of thankfulness that this album is connecting so well with listeners in this tumultuous year we’re having so far. I do think it’s very healing music. Let me know if I’ve missed anyone, ok? Thank you for your support….WAIF, WAWL, WBAA, WCLK, WCNI, WDBX, WDCB, WDNA, WDVR, WEAA, WERU, WESS, WFCF, WFIT, WFSU, WGBH, WGCH, WGMC, WHISPERINGS, WHPC, WITD, WJFF, WJMX, WJSK, WKNH, WLRN, WMHB, WMNR/WRXC/WGRS, WHYR, WMSE, WMUA, WMUH, WNMC, WOMR, WPRB, WQLN, WREK, WRIR, WRPI, WRTC, WRTI, WTJU, WTUL, WUKR, WUMR, WUOT, WVKR, WVUD, WWNO, WWOZ, WWSU, WWUH, WXNZ, WXPN, WYBF, WYSO, ZMR, KACU, KANU/KANH/KANV, KAO, KBAC, KBEM, KBRW, KCBX, KCCK, KCME, KCMJ, KCSB, KDNK, KEDM, KEOL, KEWU, KFOK, KHEN, KHSU, KIOS, KIPO, KKCR, KKRW/KWMR/KCSM, KMNO, KMST, KMUN, KMUW, KMXT/KUHB, KNOM, KNTU, KOPN, KPRP, KRBX, KRCB, KRCL, KSCW, KRTU, KRR, KSCW, KSER, KTEP, KTOO, KUAC, KUAZ, KUSD, KUTX/KVJZ, KUAC, KUVO, KVMR/WPRB, KVNF/KUMT, KXCI/KVOP, KYGT, KZMU, KZSU, KZUM, KZYX/KZYA, 2CCR/AUSTRALIA, 2MAXFM/AUSTRALIA, 2MBS FINE/AUSTRALIA, 2N79 BONDI/AUSTRALIA, ABC JAZZ CLASSIC FM/AUSTRALIA ABU DHABI CLASSIC FM/UAE, AMBIENT STUDIOS/UK, ANIMA JAZZ/ITALY, ANUHEA REFRESHING JAZZ, CALM RADIO/CANADA, Cdn COMMUNITY STATIONS/CANADA, CELESTIAL REASONINGS, CFRO/CANADA, CFUV/CANADA, CFUZ/CANADA, CHUO, CANADA, CILU/CANADA, CJUM/CANADA, CKIA/CANADA, CKUW/CANADA, CORDOBA FM/ ARGENTINA, EASTSIDE RADIO/AUSTRALIA, FREE FM/GREECE, GOT RADIO/CANADA, GUIDO’S LOUNGE/HOLLAND, JAZZ FROM GALLERY 41, JAZZ HEART SEOUL/S. KOREA, JAZZ ON THE ROCKS/CANADA, JAZZ 24/7 FROM WGBH, LES CHRONIQUE DE HIKO/FRANCE, LIPERTONIA PODCAST/SPAIN, MAX FM/AUSTRALIA, MGZC, MPR, MUSICAS IMAGINADAS, MUSIC BOX 4 FRIENDS/BELGIUM, NEW JAZZ RADIO BERLIN/GERMANY, OFFENER KANAL LUBCK/GERMANY, OURPLACE RADIO, OUTASIGHT RADIO, PEACEFUL RADIO, PHASE RADIO/AUSTRALIA, PLAYNETWORK, RADIO ARA/LUXEMBERG, RADIO ARC-EN-CIEL/FRANCE, RADIO CLUJ/ROMANIA, RADIO DESPI/SPAIN, RADIO DREYECKLAND/GERMANY, RADIO KRIMI/FRANCE, RADIOIO, RADIO GALILEE/CANADA, RADIO HOLESTBRO/DENMARK, RADIO SCINTILLA/ITALY, RADIO TUNES/SKY FM, RADIO WESTERWOLDE/HOLLANDRADIO Z/GERMANY, RADIO VIDEO JAZZ/IRELAND, RUA FM/PORTUGAL, SIN RADIO/GREECE, SLOR/HOLLAND, STYLE QUARTERLY RADIO, SUN MUSIC, SURF RADIO/FRANCE, THE MUSIC KORNER, TOPPY JAZZ/HOLLAND – THE #1 JAZZ RADIO STATION IN EUROPE, URGENT FM/BELQIUM, URQUIZA FM/ARGENTINA.

“A fantastic new CD of Lisa Hilton Night & Day. We love her version of Begin The Beguine.” Toppy Jazz the #1Jazz Station in Europe

“Ms. Hilton returns with another CD of solo piano, beautifully played and expressive, with touches of classical mixed in”. KZSU Stanford University

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

“One of my favorite jazz pianists – I like her style- sophisticated.”

FM URIQUIZA/Argentina

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

“Hilton’s best yet… wonderful work!” 2MAXFM/AUSTRALIA

“Straight and well produced solo piano. Always well done!” WRTC

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

“Hilton’s music is sweet and full of life.” ANUHEA REFRESHING JAZZ

“I was immediately drawn into her music…it takes my breath away. I love her music”. Center Stage with Pamela Kuhn/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 awestruck by beauty.” KVNF

“Beautiful sound.” BondiFM 88.0 NSW/Australia

“Keyboard lust.” MGZC Radio/NC

Los Angeles Event for Special Needs Students 3/10

February 10, 2016 by Lisa Hilton

Blog, Lisa Hilton

composer, jazz and piano, lisa hilton, piano jazz

January 22, 2016 by Lisa Hilton

Blog, Lisa Hilton

Antonio Sanchez, Carnegie Hall, composer, Duke Ellington, jazz, jazz and piano, JD Allen, lisa hilton, New Release, NOCTURNAL, piano, piano jazz, reviews, Terell Stafford

Happy January 22nd – our Official Release Day!

We are very excited today! For us the release of NOCTURNAL represents months of creative passion, HOURS of rapt attention to detail, and two days of recording bliss. Truly the best band ever: Antonio Sanchez on drums (well known for his Birdman score), once again the deep Detroit tenor sax sound of JD Allen and the Julliard trained Gregg August on bass, and the addition of the virtuosic Terell Stafford on trumpet, as well as my piano too. After seventeen albums of compositions, I decided on my eighteenth to dig for more emotional depth and length on some tunes too, and I ended up enjoying the composing time more than ever. We’re proud of how it came out and we hope the world enjoys it. We’ve gotten a few early reviews:
-“SIMPLY PHENOMENAL.” KVNF Radio
–“Traditional modern jazz is represented by a contemporary style, and newly recorded by the long-awaited quintet of Lisa Hilton. Antonio Sanchez on drums, in front of JD Allen tenor, along with the wonderful trumpet of Terrell Stafford, and Gregg August on bass – mainly original songs with a fresh melodic beauty – her piano it’s great”. HMV.com
– “A collection of hard-hitting originals… her strongest outing yet.” George Harris/JazzWeekly
– “No one plays, writes or puts together a band better than this great, talented lady! NOCTURNAL is another in a growing list of deep excellent works from Hilton.” Russ Davis/Voice of America
– “Lisa Hilton has done a remarkable job.” The New York Jazz City Record
-“Highly anticipated….” New York Cool
– “What a wonderful album.” Exploring Jazz/WUNH
–“Speaks subtly of Satie and sublimely of Ellington…. Hilton has put together the right band and chosen the right repertoire to demonstrate her treasure trove of musical influences….” About.com
-“Remarkable emotional depth and clarity from all band members…” World Jazz News
-“Hilton’s compositions and melodies bear repeat listening sessions. I found myself returning to this CD several times…” Audiophile Audition
– “Composer/pianist/bandleader Lisa Hilton composes distinctive originals that are influenced by a wide swath of music.” Dan Ouellette/Zeal!nyc
Here are a couple spots where you can check out the album: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nocturnal-Lisa-Hilton/dp/B017Y6AQRE iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nocturnal/id1058965612 or www.lisahiltonmusic.com or you can listen to a few tracks here: https://soundcloud.com/lisahiltonmusic

We had a wonderful time last week debuting the new music at Carnegie Hall – see photo/video here:https://www.facebook.com/LisaHiltonMusic . We’ll be at Pepperdine, in Malibu, CA, March 4th/Friday, Junior Blind of America March 10th, Classic Pianos/Portland March 12th and SF Jazz March 24th. We will add some more dates too. See more info here: http://lisahiltonmusic.com/tour-3/

Enjoy your weekend, and please let us know what you think of the new music if you get a chance.

Lisa

H O L I D A Y S!

November 29, 2015 by Lisa Hilton

Blog, Jazz, Lisa Hilton, piano jazz, twenty first century jazz

Ben Williams, Carnegie Hall, Holiday Gift Ideas, Ingrid Jensen, jazz, JD Allen, live, NYC, piano, piano jazz, piano students, Rudy Royston

Hope you had a nice Holiday weekend!

I enjoyed family time, hiking, a movie or too and food of course! Time to listen to NOCTURNAL – our new release that arrived Wednesday, which was exciting too, (it will be available for sale January 22nd, 2016). I also got time to play piano – so there was MUCH to be thankful for here in still sunny SoCal.

Every one has a discounted deal going on right now, but I try and offer a good price at Lisa Hilton Music all year round. With 17 CD’s out, plus 1 vinyl, digital downloads and sheet music, I hope you will find some good ideas to make your Holiday shopping easier!

I’m also getting excited about upcoming tour dates – especially January 17th, 2016 at 2pm at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Perfect acoustics, an awesome piano, and a great band: Ingrid Jensen/trumpet, JD Allen/tenor sax, Ben Williams/bass and Rudy Royston/drums. FUN! I really like to encourage students to all performances, but especially for the matinees. Student tickets (or APAP passes) are available at the Box Office: http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2015/1/11/0200/PM/Lisa-Hilton-and-Friends/ Other dates are coming up for next spring too:

MARCH 4th/Friday/Smothers Hall Pepperdine University/Malibu, CA 8pm
4255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu/ www.arts.pepperdine.edu/ (310) 506-4522 West Coast premier of NOCTURNAL/ SOLO PIANO

MARCH 10th/Thursday /Junior Blind of America, Los Angeles 4pm SOLO PIANO
Performance for special needs students: 5300 Angeles Vista Blvd. L.A. www.JuniorBlind.org

MARCH 12th/Saturday/Classic Pianos Portland, 3:30pm
3003 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland, OR 97202 (503)546-6522 www.PortlandClassicPianos.net/events SOLO PIANO

MARCH 24th/Thursday/ SFJazz
201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (826)920.5299 SFJazz.org SOLO PIANO

APRIL 13/Thursday/Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired
1850 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 666-1331 http://chicagolighthouse.org/ A short solo piano performance for special needs students.

There will be more performances coming up in 2016 too of course.

Enjoy your week and the start of the Holiday Season – my favorite time of year!

Lisa

Performing at Perkins School for the Blind

November 13, 2015 by Lisa Hilton

Blog, Press

composer, jazz, lisa hilton, Perkins School for the Blind, pianist, piano jazz

Lisa Hilton’s Jazz Rings True for Students Who Are Blind

Renowned composer/pianist pays a visit to Perkins School for the Blind.Watertown, Mass. – It was an unlikely time and place for jazz. Just before noon on a Friday at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts, pianist and composer Lisa Hilton took the stage in Dwight Hall to bring her music to 100 students, staff and guests. Before she began, she did something artists rarely do. She asked her audience to tell her at the end of the one-hour performance which piece would be the favorite. (Click here for short video.) Based in Malibu, California, Hilton had come to Watertown on October 16 following recording sessions in New York City. She debuted new compositions from the upcoming, Nocturnal, which were warmly received, and played several others reflecting nature. Her foremost attention, however, was on the students in the audience. Many were music students that she had met on her prior visits to the school. On this day, she played for them a sweet bluesy jazz number she began composing when she was just a teenager herself.

“When a musician, artist, scientist or any expert meets students where they are,” says Pat McCall, Interim Superintendent at Perkins, “the students respond with enthusiasm. You could hear it in their applause and in the easy way they spoke to Lisa.”

Hilton has a strong bond with young people who are blind or visually impaired. In addition to her numerous trips to Perkins for concerts, collaborations and workshops, she also works with Junior Blind of America in California, the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, and the Berklee College of Music Assistive Music Technology Lab for Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians. She sees her music as a way to connect. “This is a wonderful audience, wonderful school and students,” says Hilton. “I would like to just get the word out …that we need to reach out in our community. I think that so many people would like to make the world a better place… I would suggest maybe look in your own community.”

Having come to jazz in adulthood after studying classical music as a child, Hilton can relate to the young musicians she has met in her travels. “Music for anybody – or any kind of art – is an individual path… it will lead you to interesting places.”

And what were the audience’s favorite numbers at the end of the performance? Shouts went up in favor of every one. When it comes to live music in the middle of the day, everyone wins.

Perkins School for the Blind, founded in 1829 as the first school of its kind in the US, is a multifaceted organization working around the world to prepare children and young adults who are blind with the education, confidence and skills they need to realize their full potential.

Learn more at www.Perkins.org

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

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

piano-jazz

Ahhh….summer!

Escapism Press Reviews

THANK YOU RADIO EVERYWHERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Los Angeles Event for Special Needs Students 3/10

H O L I D A Y S!

Performing at Perkins School for the Blind

Happy Holidays To YOU!