Hi There,

Spring is finally here in Malibu - you can smell a little scent of summer coming soon too, and I'm in the mood for that! I got to enjoy a beautiful spring in Chicago: tulips, crocus and lilacs in bloom everywhere when I went to perform at The Joynt, (that's where the photo was taken). It really felt like a "joynt" - black floor,ceilings, tables, chairs - small, cozy and standing room only! Chicago knows how to have a great time, and I always enjoy myself there. Preforming in Hollywood at Catalina's Jazz Club in April always feels like my "home-court advantage". Friends, family, fans and great staff there too. Then I was in DC - got to have lunch with Gio from CapBop.com in the Adams Morgan section - working on my tan walking down the street in 90 degree DC heat! Whew! Then Beautiful Boston: tulips, cherry blossoms and daffodils everywhere. Remember Los Angeles was originally a desert until we stole, I mean imported, water from Colorado and Northern California, so we don't get much in the way of flowers, so I really enjoyed that trip. Did another great interview with Matt Sokol from BIRN radio, and had lunch with the president of Berklee College, Roger Brown.

May 18th I'll be playing solo at the new Union Room at Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco in there wonderful Union Square location: http://www.theunionroom.com/calendar.htm Hope you can make it! I'll be back on the east coast in September: 9/12 at Scullers/Boston with a band, 9/1 Cafe 939/Boston solo and 11/2 at Cornell University as a solo show. I think I will have other dates too. Here are two new live videos - let me know what you think, ok? "Subway": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8KnZ0R7RGw and "So This Is Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_VEoL6WjdE . We JUST put them up!

"American Impressions" has gotten wonderful reviews - I am really thankful for that. I loved "One of the years best" from CriticalJazz.com of course! I especially liked the review at AllAboutJazz.com by Dan Bilawsky -he is a very astute writer on the jazz scene: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=41832

It's been cool to get such an overwhelming response at radio - THANK YOU! Really remarkable support for "American Impressions" on radio around the world. We all really appreciate the support and love throughout the years.

Hope your spring is going well too!

Lisa

Hi there!

I realize it's been a while since I've dropped a note, but when I'm in the studio it just feels best to keep everything down low until it's all DONE, (my favorite word!). "American Impressions" is my fourteenth release in the US and my favorite so far. It's my second with this band - the great J.D. Allen on tenor sax, who I consider to be a leading tenor of all times, the incredibly agile/smart/gifted and very popular Larry Grenadier on bass (he tours with Brad Mehldau, his band Fly Trio and Pat Metheny) and the exceptionally creative Nasheet Waits on drums, (he also has played with Jason Moran, John Escreet, Fred Hirsch). We recorded January 7&8 and the CD was completely manufactured in two months. That is fast! It just happened pretty easily, and it went quickly, so that is a good sign - I can't say it was effortless, but it went down really well. It has now been sent off to radio and so you can begin hearing it around any day now. We really hope you enjoy it. You can pick it up at all the usual spots of course: Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, iTunes.com and LisaHiltonMusic.com of course. Here's the video for a solo piano tune - let me know what you think, ok? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QIYWyMqgFJg

I premiere the new music next Tuesday at The Junior Blind of America in Torrance near Los Angeles. I always like to stop there first before I start my tour - I love those kids! Other tour dates:
3/29 The Joynt/Chicago
4/12 Catalina Jazz Club/Hollywood
5/18 Biscuits & Blues/SF
9/12 Scullers/Boston * (this is rescheduled from 9/13)
11/1 Cafe 939/Boston
11/2 Cornell University/upstate NY

I hope you can come by and see a live performance and say "hi". We'll probably have more dates later too.

Hope you are doing well, and take care,
Lisa

Happy New Year and thank you!

Zone Music Reporter has announced that "Underground" was the #18 CD for 2012. Wow! That is wonderful! Thank you! I really appreciate through the years, ALL those years, the support and loyalty from the many stations that make up Zone Music Reporter. It's a cool music mix, and I'm happy and always proud to be a part of all those playlists. I think every year for many many years, my CD's have made the top for the year listings, and I love that - thank you!

Well, I'm finishing up new music as we speak! I recorded January 7 & 8, and I will finish next weekend if all goes well. I think "Underground" was a great CD, and I'm proud of it. That said, I think ZMR stations will like this upcoming CD even better - LOTS of new music and sounds - all acoustic of course. I can hardly wait to share it! Look for it in March or April.

Take care and enjoy your weekend,

Lisa Hilton

Happy New Year and Hello 2012!

Early winter is the most beautiful time on the West Coast - you can observe that the water really sparkles like diamonds at this time, allowing you to see and feel the vastness of the Universe before the rain and fog roll in. I had a really wonderful Holiday season: besides great weather, baking Christmas cookies, seeing family and friends, I finished up new music compositions for 2012. It was a lot of work, but everything that I love. 2011 was an extremely challenging year for me, as it was for many others as well. But somehow, in the last few weeks I realized that those extreme difficulties birthed, somehow, a happier and more resilient soul. I DON'T want to go through 2011 again, and I am genuinely looking forward to 2012. But I do appreciate and acknowledge the growth that occurred in 2011.

Later this week I will be in NYC for the APAP convention and working in NYC as well. Lots of jazz in the city this next week, so that will be a LOT of fun. I look forward to seeing my amazing bandmates: Larry Grenadier, Nasheet Waits and J.D. Allen again. Oh, and celebrating my Bday on Jan 5th too of course!

Wishing the very best to you in 2012,

Lisa