Dave Hill - Two Seasons (2015)

Dave Hill is a guitarist’s guitarist. He’s also a composer, producer, music teacher and author. A highly sought-after session musician in the LA area, his debut solo album Two Seasons reveals many levels and when you listen to the music, you get the feeling you’re getting to know the man. Brimming with epic-style songs, he bridges the worlds of contemporary and straight-ahead jazz. You’ll enjoy the melodic and improvisational approach and with over sixty minutes of original music in the set, it’s sonically gratifying. From the liner notes he says, “I’ve realized that music, like people and life, embodies a balance of beauty, sorrow, happiness, joy, blemishes and yes, those perfect moments we all strive to create.” This is Dave Hill’s moment. Listen as he steps into the spotlight and delivers a most impressive CD!

A beautiful ensemble recording, it features performances by his band members: Adam Cohen (bass), Bill Fulton (piano/keyboards), Kevin King (keyboards) and Tim McIntyre (drums) as well as guest performances by Andy Suzuki (soprano/tenor sax), Ernest Tibbs (fretless bass) and Dave Karasony (The Rippingtons) on drums. Special guest artist, and Ripps alumni Gregg Karukas (piano), with whom Hill has performed many concerts, also joins him and appears on the tracks, Remembering You, Two Seasons, When We’re Together and Pack A Lunch.

Throughout Hill’s record you hear many musical influences from the Wes Montgomery-styled Remembering You to the Bill Evans-inspired Workin’ On Your Thing. But it goes even deeper and more eclectic as he riffs out on electric guitar with Two Seasons, plays the blues on If You Don’t Care Anymore and lets his guitar dance on the samba-styled Teite.

Each song on this magnificent project evokes a unique mood and is nurtured, evolved and explored to the fullest. And which season is it you ask? It’s really Two Seasons, and it’s a complete guitar record.