The Lisa Hilton Quintet Returns with Extended Daydream

Award-winning pianist and composer Lisa Hilton returns with her highly anticipated album, Extended Daydream, set for release on November 28, 2025, via Ruby Slippers Productions. Renowned for her lyrical touch, inventive compositions, and ability to reinterpret jazz standards with a fresh perspective, Hilton continues to cement her reputation as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. With thirty-one albums to her name, her music consistently draws millions of streams and appears at the top of jazz charts worldwide.

A Quintet of Jazz Luminaries

On Extended Daydream, Hilton collaborates with an exceptional quintet:

• JD Allen – tenor saxophone

• Igmar Thomas – trumpet

• Luques Curtis – bass

• Rudy Royston – drums

Allen’s return is particularly noteworthy, having recorded eight previous albums with Hilton. Their musical chemistry shines on tracks like the title track Extended Daydream, where the two weave complementary lines, and Momentary Mystery, which swings with effortless groove. Curtis’ melodic bass lines and Royston’s dynamic drumming provide a robust yet flexible foundation, while Thomas’ trumpet adds both power and subtlety to the ensemble.

Bridging Eras and Styles

The album features eleven tracks that effortlessly blend jazz standards, contemporary reinterpretations, and Hilton originals. Highlights include:

• So What – Hilton begins with a gentle modal introduction before merging into the iconic Miles Davis motif, reinvigorated by the quintet’s virtuosic interplay.

• Wildflower – Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell’s 2024 tune receives a sensitive, introspective treatment, with muted trumpet and nuanced piano highlighting the song’s emotional core.

• Tropical Tuesday – A Latin-inspired track that showcases Hilton’s melodic brilliance alongside Curtis’ rhythmic dexterity.

• Here & There & Back & Forth – A playful exploration of multiple eras of jazz, highlighting the group’s improvisational energy.

• Seabirds and Blues on the Beach – Reflective compositions inspired by contemporary events and natural beauty.

• Solo piano tracks Sunset Tale and Spacious Skies close the album with a slightly classical, meditative tone, inviting listeners to reflect and unwind.

Critical Acclaim and Musical Vision

Hilton has been praised for her ability to lead listeners into her musical world: DownBeat highlights her “pianistic depth and willingness to surrender to, and then occupy, the emotions a song contains,” while Hot House Jazz notes her “eloquent melodic lines” and compositional vision. She continues to draw inspiration from great American composers like Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and Chet Baker, blending cool jazz sensibilities with modern improvisational flair.

With Extended Daydream, Lisa Hilton and her quintet deliver an album that is at once sophisticated, genre-fluid, and emotionally resonant—a testament to the enduring power of jazz and Hilton’s mastery as a pianist and composer.