Lisa Hilton Celebrates Optimism In 'Life Is Beautiful' With Luques Curtis & Rudy Royston

Lisa Hilton and her trio, manifest a memorable experience on Life Is Beautiful, her third recording of the pandemic era, and the acclaimed pianist, composer, and producer’s twenty-fifth album as a leader. On it, Hilton indulges her love of the piano with ten original tracks and the cover gem, “Ernie’s Blues," (written by Ernie Wilkins). Backed by her ever-excellent band mates: Rudy Royston on drums and Luques Curtis on bass, Hilton’s elegantly swinging piano and engaging compositions encompass a range from traditional tracks, Latin, blues and retro seamlessly. Royston continually hits the marks on his kit, and Curtis shows off plenty of style over this splendid repertoire of compositions.

The album begins with an impressive bass solo from Curtis on the classic “Ernie’s Blues." The tune’s complex chords and loose bluesy passages allow accomplished soloing from Hilton as well. “Retro Road Trip' highlights Royston’s rhythm skills and has a bit of a Prokofiev energy amid mid-century grooves. Inspired by classic American Standards, Hilton includes two romantic compositions here: “So This Is Love" and “Nightingales and Fairy Tales"—both evoking nostalgic charms and reminiscent of some of Bill Evans work in his sixties period. “Too Hot" dips into modal ideas creating its own melodic atmosphere. Hilton includes two Latin flavored compositions: “Stepping Into Paradise" as well as “Santa Monica Samba," that show the versatility of the trio in mingling different Latin styles together effortlessly. “Seduction" is a solo piano piece that Hilton has recorded before, (some other tracks have also been recorded on past albums), with a new extended version here, showcasing Hilton’s love for the blues. “Temporary Lullaby," written for Hilton’s daughter, is a melodic standout. In her liner notes, it mentions that “More Than Another Day" nods to Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Cole Porter.

Besides his work with Hilton, Royston has collaborated with an ever-expanding list of iconic jazz musicians such as Ron Miles, Bill Frisell, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Tia Fuller. Curtis, an equally sought-after collaborator, has worked with Eddie Palmieri, Orrin Evans, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Sean Jones, and many more. About planning a recording session this far into the pandemic years, Hilton notes: “I think all musicians right now are hungry to play, so it feels really good when we have the opportunity to get together all day in the studio when we record. Despite the masks and other challenges, musicians need to create music. It sounds simplistic, but that's how we thrive.” Hilton has continued to compose, perform and produce an album a year in a trio, quartet, quintet or solo piano setting, and is a familiar name at the top of charts like Jazz Week, ZMR, and #1 Amazon New Releases. Hilton's albums also regularly appear on some “Best Of” lists” at All About Jazz or other sites, and popular music collections like Apple’s Pure Jazz Playlist. Hilton and her trio had two albums on JazzWeek's Top Albums of 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 old, 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 and has noted that her art background regularly informs her creativity. Hilton’s music draws on classical traditions, and twentieth-century modernists as well as classic American jazz greats such as Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and Horace Silver, as well as blues heroes Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. 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.” Hilton often speaks about the need for the music of women composers to be heard and presented more consistently in theaters and clubs performing jazz, classical and opera, as well as honoring their historical cultural contributions.

Praise for Lisa Hilton

“The album that absolutely enthralls…. There's an affirmation of goodness to the music of pianist Lisa Hilton, a quiet something of a positive nature that is known intrinsically true so listen in to Life Is Beautiful before it's all too late.” —Mike Jurkovic, All About Jazz

“Rich impressionistic form a la Debussy.” —Jazz Weekly

“Dazzling!” —The Midwest Record

“Beautiful music... beautifully played!” —KFAI/MN

“What a superb effort.” 2RRR fm/Australia

“An absolutely beautiful album. I love all the tunes…” KVNF Radio

“Truly wonderful!” Radio Activ/Greece

“Wonderful recording as usual—enhanced by a killer Bassist Luques Curtis and Drummer Rudy Royston. NICE!” —CJSR/Canada

“Lisa has always been one of my favorite jazz musicians. She does not disappoint here!” —WHFC/MD

“Lisa Hilton is back in town, that's delightful, with her magic piano…” —Radio Arc-en-Ciel FM/France