"Hilton has an absolutely unique and beautiful sound BRAVO!" Hugh Carson/KVNF Radio
It’s an appropriate prelude for an album that unfolds with the track Rush Hour Rhapsody - quickly exposing the listener to the robust energy of her band. There’s also a hard-to-pin-down energy flowing between Allen’s explosive virtuosic displays, the dynamic details of Royston’s accents or the booming lines of Curtis’s bass alongside Hilton’s fluid piano. “Oh, we had a lot of fun recording this – I think you can hear that,” responds Hilton. “I first worked with JD in 2009 for my album Twilight & Blues. He is a true artist and I think he’s the tenor (sax) of our times. His solo on Sympathy for Blues is the best I’ve ever heard! I’ve toured and recorded with Rudy and Luques quite a bit too – we feel like family by now.”
“My favourite album we’ve worked on in – there’s a lot of great music!” Al Schmitt / 23 Grammy-winning engineer
“We live in an exciting time of constant change…” is the introductory quote from the award-winning composer, and acclaimed pianist Lisa Hilton, in her liner notes for her latest release Chalkboard Destiny – recorded with jazz luminaries JD Allen on tenor sax, Rudy Royston on drums and Luques Curtis on bass.
It’s an appropriate prelude for an album that unfolds with the track Rush Hour Rhapsody - quickly exposing the listener to the robust energy of her band. There’s also a hard-to-pin-down energy flowing between Allen’s explosive virtuosic displays, the dynamic details of Royston’s accents or the booming lines of Curtis’s bass alongside Hilton’s fluid piano. “Oh, we had a lot of fun recording this – I think you can hear that,” responds Hilton. “I first worked with JD in 2009 for my album Twilight & Blues. He is a true artist and I think he’s the tenor (sax) of our times. His solo on Sympathy for Blues is the best I’ve ever heard! I’ve toured and recorded with Rudy and Luques quite a bit too – we feel like family by now.”
The concept behind Chalkboard Destiny is the idea that our future, our destiny, can be continually reshaped, allowing us freedom in creation. The title track easily exhibits this concept with Royston’s rim shots clacking for attention. Hilton also shows her harmonic and emotional depth with her tender composition Temporary Lullaby, as well as the moving Waltz From Nowhere. The Joni Mitchell classic, Blue Boy showcases the compatibility of this group – Allen’s dusky tenor a contrast to his bandmates. Tracks Tropic of Tango, Myths & Fantasy, and Adventures & Alibis all delve into a variety of Latin rhythms and engaging harmonic ideas as well. Café au Mojo, is a bright piece where traditional ideas abound. Grammy ® Award-winning engineers Al Schmitt, Gavin Lurssen, Reuben Cohen & Fernando Lodeiro all contributed to the high-quality sound. Altogether an exuberant exhibition of top-notch players rallying around traditional ideas in new ways. Sounds like destiny.
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