Dave Hill

Ensembling powerfully with some of the most exciting and innovative performers on the L.A. scene, the veteran guitarist offers a richly textured mix of beautiful melodies and energetic improvisations on his independently released debut Two Seasons. Realizing that the spirit of truly great music can't always be so tidy and contained, Hill digs deep into his foundational Wes Montgomery influence with a modern approach and comes up with an eclectic experience to create the ultimate player's project.

Familiar to fans in Southern California for his numerous club and festival dates with keyboardists Scott Wilkie and Gregg Karukas (who performs on four of the eight tracks), Hill's first solo collection is a natural extension of his increasing visibility as a spotlight performer. Two Seasons features contributions by regular Hill bandmembers Adam Cohen (bass), Tim McIntyre (drums), Bill Fulton (piano) and Kevin King (keyboards), in addition to additional guest performances by tenor saxophonist Andy Suzuki, bassist Ernest Tibbs and longtime Rippingtons' drummer Dave Karasony.

"My main objective is to reach the listening public with thoughtful, well played music and the assurance that I'm a new artist with a strong, constantly developing vision of what I believe the essence of jazz to be," says Hill, whose other influences include Pat Metheny, John Scofield and, going back to childhood, pianist Vince Guaraldi. "I write music to communicate with people, so it's very balanced between the heavily melodic and improvisational. I enjoy bridging the gap between jazz purists who like really daring performances and newcomers to jazz who simply enjoy great songs played by musicians who know how to both groove and entertain. The spirit I try to capture is about creating a synergy, being inspired by those you work with to be spontaneous and take the energy higher. It's really about being in the moment."

Each moment of the 60 plus minutes of Two Seasons invokes a unique mood and vibe, beginning with the thoughtful and cool electric melody that introduces the opening track "Remembering You." Karukas' elegant piano melody eases the tune into an easy swinging, then more aggressive jazz mode, with Hill strutting his stuff over Cohen and McIntyre's increasingly intense rhythm patterns. The title track lives up to its multi-faceted promise, breaking laid back and melodic with a lush Hill/Suzuki interaction before Hill turns his electric axe loose for some explosive rock fusion; the tune also includes Karukas' unmistakable shimmering electric piano and tasteful playing.