Nocturnal

Product Description

Composer/pianist/band leader Lisa Hilton has completed her eighteenth release, NOCTURNAL with her most impressive band to date – Hilton again on keys, with Antonio Sanchez/drums, Terell Stafford/trumpet, Gregg August/bass and J.D. Allen on tenor sax. It will be released January 22nd, 2016. The eleven tracks show a remarkable emotional depth and clarity from all band members with plenty of virtuosic moments. For lovers of tradition, the title track Nocturnal, Whirlwind and the classic, Willow Weep for Me allow for Stafford’s fluid trumpet and flugelhorn and Allen’s husky tenor tone to shine. The Latin flavored, Spark in the Night, showcases Sanchez and August and their extensive Latin backgrounds in a catchy and appealing way, while Twilight is impressionistic. A surprise choice is The Pixies’ Where is my Mind – so simply stated, then turning in another direction by the finale. It’s on the bluesy Seduction and the tender An August Remembered that Hilton’s flowing lines and compositional ideas are highlighted. Also included is Hilton’s Midnight Sonata for piano, bass and drums: I. Symphony of Blues II. Desire and III. Midnight Stars. “I have 200+ tracks on iTunes that I have composed or arranged now,” Hilton explains, “and felt inspired to create a larger work of music. Midnight Sonata merges a classical format with the freedom of American jazz and blues in a method I call trans-genre. Many of our great American composers composed in classical music that I have been inspired by: George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck to name a few. It was challenging as well as being a lot of fun compositionally.” While the sonata form is in tact, Hilton used improvisation, blues, modal washes, shifting key centers, free jazz, impressionism and extended technique in creating a refreshing yet familiar vibe. NOCTURNAL is evocative, expressive and perfect for jazz and piano fans everywhere.

Review

Mastery of the keyboard… her music offers a unique blend of concepts of the past and future that’s quite beautiful. –Burning Ambulance

The title track,Nocturnal; received first place/jazz in the USA Songwriting Competition – the World’s Leading International Songwriting Competition –USA Songwriting Competition

No one plays, writes or puts together a band better than Lisa Hilton. –Voice Of America syndicated radio show/Russ Davis