I’m not sure why the career of pianist/composer Lisa Hilton has been under the radar all of these years, but albums like this latest one scream for attention and praise. She’s released albums in trio, solo and small group format, with this one a mix of the latter two, always using her own strong material with a dash of one or two covers, in this case a thoughtful and melancholy read of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue Boy.” Other than that, the group in both settings is strong, assured, creative and fresher than most of what is being passed around these days as modern jazz.
In the trio settings, Hilton’s nimble digits lilt with drummer Rudy Royston on the pulsating “Chalkboard Density” with a rich undulation with him and bassist Luques Curtis during the graceful “Temporary Lullaby” while producing a bluesy herky jerky shuffle with Curtis’ line as sleek as the fins of a 61 Caddy on “Café’ Au Mojo.”
When JD Allen brings in his smoky tenor, things get rich and dark with some rivulets formed on the hued calypso “Rush Hour Rhapsody” with Allen blowing smoke rings on the puffy “Sympathy For The Blues.” Most successful is when Hilton pulls out her inner Marlene Dietrich and stands on a lamplit corner on “Waltz From Nowhere” and saunters with him on the dance floor with a rose between her teeth during “Tropic Of Tango”.
Few artists have a personal and yet accessible sound these days. Hilton gets put in the top rung with this one.
She’ll be on tour Feb 21, 22 and 23 in SF (SF JAZZ), Santa Cruz (KUUMBWA JAZZ) and Malibu (PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY) respectively, so check out her site for details.