Search - Cynthia Hilts, Ron Mcclure, Jeff Williams :: Second Story Breeze

Primarily Personal

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 10/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cynthia Hilts is a multifaceted, multitalented artist. She is a phenomenally gifted pianist who has the same control over the keyboard and the range of dynamics and finesse of touch as a classically trained pianist. Her involvement in the technical aspects of making music in the jazz idiom don't stop there. This lady can write some terrific, refreshingly new songs and then deliver not only the piano portion but also the lyrics with her dusky, sexy voice. Listening to Cynthia Hilts (in collaboration with her trio that includes Ron McClure on bass and Jeff Williams on drums) is about as pure as jazz gets - start with a phrase/tune/statement and then embellishing it until the full range of emotions are explored.



The CD opens with a wonderful tune 'Second Story Breeze' which is primarily a piano solo with accompaniment from the trio and from Hilts' own wordless vocal instrumental enhancement. Hilts voice, as soulful as it is, is so well integrated with the total effect that it seem her singing comes from her flexible fingers more than her vocal chords! She can take off on a casually involving piano solo 'Nun, Miffdemeanor-Like' and make it feel endlessly creative. Humor creeps in along with extended solos from the other members of her trio in 'Living It Up' and 'My Favorite Things'. Hilts traverses her own works with those standards that sound like we've never heard them.



For this listener the highlight of this consistently excellent album is 'Love for Sale' - a rendition that literally squeezes out every drop of meaning from the intent of the song. Here Hilts shows us just how well she can sing and turn words into meaning. It is a delight.



For those who appreciate jazz performed by gifted musicians CYNTHIA HILTS SECOND STORY BREEZE will take you places you have never been and provide some of the most satisfying sounds and communication currently out there! Grady Harp, October 08"