Album Notes

Sunny Day Theory \"Life these days is filled with challenges, and last year I encountered a lot: the passing of my friend and jazz icon, Joe Zawinul, three devastating fires in my hometown of Malibu, war ravaging the planet, the death of my mother - all scattered among the “everyday” difficulties of love and life. But I noticed that with grief there is indeed grace; for every pain, pleasure can follow; that after fire, there is indeed re-growth. My engineer made me laugh when he recounted a “Foggy Day Theory” he created when he was stuck in L. A. traffic one day. I immediately countered with a “Sunny Day Theory,” which basically assumes that every difficulty, if embraced honestly, will create the opportunity for growth, hope, and light. That the complex can be dealt with one step at a time, that there can be great depth in something as simple as a melody, that within every blues there is astounding beauty, and that with tomorrow, there is always the hope for a sunny day. During this time, I found myself especially savoring the beauty of life we sometimes take for granted: fresh-washed mornings, delightful warm weather, and beach walks at sunset which found their way into these tunes. Enjoy these upbeat tunes\". Composer/producer/pianist Lisa Hilton is joined by Lewis Nash on drums, Larry Grenadier on bass and Brice Winston on tenor sax. Recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios. All royalties from the track, \"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?\" from digital delivery services such as iTunes during 2008, will be donated to The Carter Center, which was founded by former president and Nobel Peace Price laureate Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Or you can donate directly to this esteemed organization through www.cartercenter.org. Lisa Hilton supports music education programs for school children, especially for the blind or visually impaired. All About Jazz By: George Harris September 2008 “… a top notch piano player (Lisa Hilton) with a touch mixed with a set of chops that rivals anything Brad Mehldau has put out in his much heralded career.” “Sunny Day Theory includes the formidable collective forces of drummer Lewis Nash, bassist Larry Grenadier, and tenor saxophonist Brice Winston for an exquisite set of originals and clever covers.” NY Jazz Improv By: Dave Miele September 2008 “Lisa Hilton is an unpretentious, understated pianist with a flare for groove and feel. She is a prolific composer whose original compositions create moods and atmospheres that take the listener on a journey. Along for the ride on Sunny Day Theory, her latest release, are drummer Lewis Nash, saxophonist Brice Winston, and Bassist Larry Grenadier. These men lend their considerable musical talents to a song cycle that is as much about following Hilton through a soundscape of moods as it is about the individual character of each tune. Hilton doesn’t fill each track with endless improvisations. Rather, the sets the mood and character of each piece and then gently walks through that world for a few minutes. There is something quite refreshing about this approach to a modern jazz recording.” Buffalo News By: Jeff Simon August 2008 “Lisa Hilton, ‘Sunny Day Theory’ (Ruby Slippers). This beauteous Californian pianist has some of the better friends you can have in jazz these days. She has the potential to be almost as hugely popular a jazz pianist as, say, Diana Krall is a singer/pianist. And, of course, blonde beauty is by no means incidental to it. THIS CD IS AVAILABLE AT OR AROUND SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 BUT MAY BE AVAILABLE EARLIER ON ITUNES, etc.