Lisa Hilton: More Than Another Day

It's very comforting to know that, as Annus Horribilis (2020) crashes to its long awaited, cursed demise, pianist/composer Lisa Hilton delivers, as she has faithfully over the past few years, a year-end gift to aficionados everywhere with her soulfully bluesy More Than Another Day.

When you consider all our anxious caution for the year ahead, More Than Another Day may be a more laid back affair given 2019's watermark Chalkboard Destiny (Ruby Slippers Productions), 2018's ascendant Oasis (Ruby Slippers Productions), and 2017's eye-opening Escapism (Ruby Slippers Productions) But if you've ever wondered about the cameos resting in Hilton's jewel box, you can do no better than treating yourself to these organically graceful nine originals plus a take on "I've Got You Under My Skin" that is so Hilton entertaining her Latin curiosities she might be able to claim a whole new copyright for Cole Porter's old song.

Forced off the road in early 2020 due to you-know-what, Hilton turned to her piano and began to grace us with her Chopin-does-Dave Brubeck approach. With her long trusted rhythm mates at the ready, bassist Luques Curtis and the indefatigable drum choreography of Rudy Royston, the trio launch headfirst into the sprightly 'n tight title track with a joyful flourish that darkens, leading into a brightening with "Retro Road Trip," a rollicking, three car chase scene that has the trio in its rushing grip. "Secret Beach" then unfolds as a pensive samba.

"Blues and Beauty" is so beautifully born-in-the-bones blue that you're grateful it clocks in as Hilton's second lengthiest track since 2015, ("Warm Summer Night" from Oasis takes the prize at 6:38) That's a lot of great music in a lot of small spaces. Even a passing listen to the fragility of "Today I Looked At Love," or the resolve of "Dear Life of Mine" goes a long way to prove this. Hilton has an emphatic hold upon the intricacies of these songs, and Curtis and Royston are very fond of giving voice too. More Than Another Day is just that indeed.