Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show


Welcome to Straight No Chaser, the Award-winning Podcast hosted by Jeffrey Siegel

Mar 22, 2021

Lisa Hilton and her longstanding band mates Rudy Royston (drums), Luques Curtis (bass) and JD Allen (tenor sax), had just finished the first half of their tour for their 2020 album, Chalkboard Destinywhen the corona virus forced a shutdown of the tour and sent Lisa back to her home in California. Using her creativity in new and different ways, she composed new material, and when there was a chance for Royston and Curtis to join her for a one day recording session later in the year, they jumped at the chance. The result is More Than Another Day.

Her music has always been strong on melody and rhythmically interesting, and the new album is no exception. Without Allen or any of her previous collaborators, Lisa is forced to carry more of the harmonic and melodic weight that her last few records, and she does so with a flourish. Whether it’s the upbeat and swinging “Retro Road Trip,” the prescient “Karma Chaos" or her take on Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, the trio is always swinging, adding Latin feel here, Brazilian sway there, and always a touch of the blues.

Podcast 806 is my conversation with Lisa Hilton, as we discuss her latest album, how she sees her musical life changed by the pandemic, and how she hopes to return to her work playing music with the sight impaired at the Perkins School for the Blind in the near future. More than just a performer, Lisa composes much of her material, leads the band, produces the recordings and releases them on her own label. Musical selections from More Than Another Day include “Karma Chaos” and “Retro Road Trip.”