Showing posts with label Theo Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theo Hill. Show all posts

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Theo Hill - Promethean

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:29
Size: 127,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. This Here
(3:40)  2. Hey, It's Me You're Talking To
(5:00)  3. Finger Painting
(4:07)  4. I Love Music
(5:25)  5. Pee Wee
(4:59)  6. The Phoenix
(5:16)  7. Blasphemy
(5:26)  8. Is That So
(6:24)  9. Litha
(4:15) 10. Chance
(5:43) 11. Citadel

Promethean captures Theo Hill at a significant juncture in his development. The record is ample evidence that the thirty-something New York City-based artist is rapidly securing a place in the crowded field of noteworthy contemporary jazz pianists. On the one hand particularly during medium and up-tempo cuts such as "This Here," "Hey, It's Me You're Talking To," "Litha," "Is That So," and "Citadel"youthful exuberance and a cocky certainty imbue everything he plays. On the other, his improvisations are resourceful, well ordered, and hang together as a whole. Hyperliterate, thrill ride choruses are the norm. Throughout the eleven tracks the present state of his art speaks for itself and points to the future. Hill's efforts practically shout out: "This is what I can do now; but stick around, because in a matter of months or a year or so, my music will be in an even better place." With the exception of one original composition, the program is comprised of material by Bobby Timmons, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Kirkland, Duke Pearson, Tony Williams, Victor Lewis, Chick Corea and Hale Smith. Though these names may be used as a general stylistic compass, they're not an invitation to label Promethean as some sort of tribute record. Hill is way past any sort of fealty to his influences, and so the compositions serve as templates for an impressive skill set. A precisely calibrated relationship between his left and right hands is a hallmark of Hill's pianism. Generally speaking, the right hand does most of the talking, while the left enacts hurdles to leap over, swerve around, or surmount. Even at his most active, the deep-seated connection between his two hands is apparent and his touch never falters or sounds strained. On the head of Hill's original, "The Phoenix," the chords are as weighty as blocks of granite. Throughout the solo his left hand slices, dices, and chops, while the right feverishly moves forward. In contrast, during portions of Hancock's "Finger Painting," Hill's left hand takes on the character of subtle brush strokes. Though Mark Whitfield, Jr's rambunctious drumming and Yasushi Nakamura's solid bass lines make significant contributions throughout, Hill's solo on Kirkland's "Chance" shows that he's more than capable of sustaining momentum on his own. In the end, Hill's interpretations of a wide range of material and his exhilarating improvisations make Promethean an impressive recording. ~ David A. Orthmann https://www.allaboutjazz.com/promethean-theo-hill-posi-tone-records-review-by-david-a-orthmann.php

Personnel: Theo Hill: piano; Yasushi Nakamura: bass; Mark Whitfield, Jr: drums.

Promethean

Friday, January 11, 2019

Josh Evans - Portrait

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:11
Size: 167,4 MB
Art: Front

( 5:21)  1. Albany Ave.
( 7:30)  2. Ray Mac Left Town
( 5:11)  3. Tehran
( 5:05)  4. Chronic Mistakes
( 6:16)  5. Spring is Here
( 7:03)  6. Beatnik
( 6:56)  7. The Lamp is Low
( 8:53)  8. Ballad
(12:04)  9. The Moment of Truth
( 7:46) 10. Good Mornin'

The artist Picasso once said “the way I paint is my way of keeping a diary.” Much like Picasso, Josh Evans’ “Portrait” is a musical diary suggesting a close relationship between art and life. “Portrait” takes us through a remarkable musical journey with uncompromising integrity, creating a masterpiece. Evans shares with the listener his important and influential relationships with Rashied Ali, Jackie McLean, and Raymond “Dr. Rackle” Williams, whose musical talent is evident throughout the CD. “Portrait” marks the debut recording of Josh Evans as a musical leader and encompasses something very special that upon listening evokes a realization that the world of jazz resides in this musician; with deep roots in the knowledge of the music and his own self-awareness. Listeners are engulfed in rhythms, melodies, & textures of music that is special for an artist to achieve. This CD contains intensity of performance and the intimacy of a late night jazz scene. This long anticipated recording reveals a new and fresh approach to music that as Josh himself would describe, “had nothing to do with anything you could put on paper; it was about creating music.” Josh Evans “Portrait” is a recording everyone will want in their music collection. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/joshevans

Personnel:  Josh Evans -Trumpet;  Ray McMorrin - Tenor Saxophone;  Lawrence Clark - Tenor Saxophone;  Alan Jay Palmer - Piano;  Theo Hill - Piano;  Dezron Douglas - Bass;  Ralph Peterson - Drums

Portrait

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Theo Hill - Live At Smalls

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:25
Size: 159,2 MB
Art: Front

( 8:49)  1. Ellipse
( 9:55)  2. Teeth
( 7:54)  3. Four by Five
( 5:25)  4. Naima's Lullaby
( 7:07)  5. Iris
( 7:15)  6. Promise of the Sun
(12:56)  7. Mantra
( 9:00)  8. Without A Song

Theo Hill: Live at Smalls is pianist Theo Hill's debut recording as a leader on the SmallsLIVE label. On this set, Hill is joined by saxophonists Dayna Stephens and Myron Walden, bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Rodney Green. The recording pays homage to Hill's first appearance as a professional pianist in NYC at Smalls Jazz Club. After graduating cum-laude from the prestigious Jazz Conservatory at Suny Purchase University in 2004, he has toured extensively throughout five different continents and has been featured at hundreds of venues across the globe. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Theo-Hill-Live-at-Smalls/dp/B00QSX2VQ4

Personnel:  Theo Hill – Piano;  Dayna Stephens - Tenor Sax/EWI;  Myron Walden - Alto Sax;  Joe Sanders – Bass;  Rodney Green - Drums

Live At Smalls