Updated: December 2, 2022
Born: January 5
Laced with a pulsating West Coast cool energy, the award-winning composer and acclaimed pianist Lisa K. Hiltons’, recordings are imbued with subtle historical references from a wide variety of genres and eras, sounding distinctly twenty-first century and uniquely of her own style. Her compositional inspirations do spring from jazz legends Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Horace Silver and Duke Ellington, but they also include her favorite bluesmen, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, touches of minimalism from the likes Steve Reich, rhythmic swatches from modernists such as Prokofiev and Bartok or chords from rockers like The Black Keys or Green Day – they all hold sway in Hilton’s imagination when she composes.
Originally from a small town on California’s central coast, Hilton studied classical and twentieth-century piano formally from the age of eight, where she was inspired by her great uncle, Willem Bloemendall, (1910-1937), a Dutch piano virtuoso. Hilton accompanied on the piano for her grammar school glee club starting in third grade, later joining orchestra and band on flute, and performed piano scores for high school musicals.
In college though, due to the lack of creativity in the music program, she dropped out, switching majors and receiving a degree in art instead. Since becoming a professional musician though, this background in the arts has informed Hilton’s composition process noting that she “paints” her compositions with harmonic washes and then “sculpts” them with textural and rhythmic ideas. In the book, The New Face of Jazz, by Cicily Janus (with an introduction by jazz legend, Wynton Marsalis and an afterword by jazz icon, Sonny Rollins), Janus notes that Hilton has been “compared to some of the best pianists in history”–comparisons are often made to the legendary Bill Evans and Dave Brubeck, but Hilton’s compositions are also considered to be reminiscent of musical impressionists such as Claude Debussy and Erik Satie.
Hilton has performed at venues across the US from the legendary Carnegie Hall to Chicago’s historic Green Mill and is known her expressive technique at the piano as well as for her warmth and storytelling on stage. Over a career that has lasted several years, Hilton has worked with many of todays’ living jazz legends such as JD Allen, Rudy Royston, Larry Grenadier, Terell Stafford, Christian McBride, Sean Jones, Billy Hart, Marcus Gilmore, Nasheet Waits and others. Her latest recording, OASIS was recorded with Luques Curtis on bass and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. With her high-profile band mates, Hilton continues producing an album a year through her publishing company, Lisa Hilton Music. Her deep catalog of compositions is now nearing 300 recorded tracks – and her releases annually receiving strong support from radio and acclaim from critics around the world.
Tags
All About Jazz Articles
Album Review
- Oasis by Mike Jurkovic
- Chalkboard Destiny by Mike Jurkovic
Radio & Podcasts
Album Review
- More Than Another Day by Mike Jurkovic
- More Than Another Day by Peter J. Hoetjes
Radio & Podcasts
Album Review
- Transparent Sky by Mike Jurkovic
- Life is Beautiful by Mike Jurkovic
- Paradise Cove by Mike Jurkovic
Take Five With...
Read more articlesDecember 02, 2022
Pianist Lisa Hilton Debuts New Dynamic Quartet on 'Paradise Cove'
March 29, 2022
Lisa Hilton Celebrates Optimism In 'Life Is Beautiful' With Luques...
August 04, 2021
Lisa Hilton and her Trio with Rudy Royston and Luques Curtis...
January 15, 2021
Pianist Lisa Hilton Releases More Than Another Day with Rudy Royston...
November 12, 2019
Lisa Hilton Redefines Her Path With Latest Album 'Chalkboard Destiny'...
October 19, 2017
Lisa Hilton Sets Forth On A Journey Promoting Peace, Tranquility and...
December 22, 2016
Pianst Lisa Hilton Release "Day & Night" on Ruby Slippers Productions
April 05, 2013
Enter the "Lisa Hilton - Getaway" Giveaway at All About Jazz!
March 27, 2013
Lisa Hilton "Getaway" Release With Larry Grenadier and Nasheet Waits
May 04, 2012
“Lisa Hilton’s most charming and beguiling CD to date.” —Linda Yohn/WEMU 2013 “Smoking, cooking stuff … one winning wild ride.” —Chris Spector/The Midwest Record 2013 “A wonderful melding of musical worlds.” —George Harris/JazzWeekly 2013 “One of the major voices in the modern jazz community, ” —The Jazz Messenger, 2012 “A true original at the top of her game.” —All About Jazz, 2012 "A Lioness of Jazz" —JazzReview.com
Dave Brubeck
pianoBill Cunliffe
pianoTommy Flanagan
pianoHampton Hawes
pianoEubie Blake
pianoDena DeRose
voice / vocalsDidier Verna
guitarDavid Hazeltine
pianoBradley Sowash
pianoRoland Hanna
pianoMakoto Ozone
pianoMarc Cary
pianoDan Cray
pianoArtists who share similar musical characteristics to Lisa Hilton.