Lisa Hilton - Midnight In Manhattan (CD)

"As beautiful as she is talented, there is no doubt that this pianist has a gift for jazz." -This Month In Music

"...nothing but encores." -EJazzNews

"As elegant and refined a collection as you'll hear anywhere...Ms. Hilton's own playing is subtle, enchanting and always impeccable." -Cafe Jazz

Lisa Hilton/piano, Johnny Friday/drums, Reggie McBride/bass, Bobby Militello/sax

Track Listing:
1 Hit the Road Jack/Percy Mayfield
2 City Streets
3 Midnight in Manhattan
4 So What/ Miles Davis
5 Warm Summer Night
6 Moon River/ Henry Mancini
7 Sunday Morning
8 Over the Rainbow
9 The Easy Life
10 Late Night...
11 Kind of in Love

"Walking back after a jazz concert to my hotel late on a
chilly January night, I savored the energy that
is unique to New York. In composing I draw
from times like these to share my experiences, moods, and emotions: like a musical blog or photo album. The songs on this recording are the moments worth
remembering in life; whether they make us
smile and dance, or create a wistful
ambience. I hope they touch you as positively as they touch me.

I admire the beautiful melodies of our great
American songwriters of the 30’s, the Blues
of the South, and the rhythmic and melodic
hooks of classic jazz that was born here in
the 1950’s and still sounds cool now.
I believe that jazz today can draw inspiration
from all these sources and still sound new,
while blending with tradition. In the studio,
we recorded acoustic instruments without
overdubs or similar effects. To keep the
improvisational spirit on edge, no sheet
music or “charts” were used for the
compositions I wrote. I introduced a new
song, describe the approach I desired,
and then we would immediately record. I
encouraged Bobby Militello, Reggie McBride
and John Friday to stretch out, experiment,
and have fun. Final track selections were
made based on expressiveness, not on how
lisa hilton MIDNIGHT IN MANHATTAN
“perfect” they were. My goal was to create a
tangible mood with each piece, and to enjoy
the specific tone and beauty inherent in each
instrument. I requested my engineers: Al
Schmitt, Steve Genowick, Larry Mah, Doug
Sax and Sunny Nam, to keep the sound
natural and intimate – including at times the
fretwork on the bass, and the pedal of the
piano. I hope you enjoy the rich timeless
sound they have created here."