Theo Hill
Theo Hill has emerged as one of the top voices in jazz piano and returns with a new album full of original compositions and expressive musicality. His keyboarding adventures continue with Reality Check (2020 Posi-Tone) which features the rising star Joel Ross on vibraphone, diverse bassist Rashaan Carter, and expressive drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. Writing all but three of the songs on the album, Hill is connecting with the listener at his highest level yet.
This is Hill’s third record for Posi-Tone and follows Interstellar Adventures (2018) and Promethean (2017). Hill released his debut album, Theo Hill Quartet Live at Smalls in 2015. Hill is also on the piano chair for the successful release by New Faces titled Straight Forward. This group of Posi-Tone leaders brings the spirit of the label to record.
Born in Albany, New York, Hill began to study classical piano with Taubman Technique specialist Mary Moran at the age of five. Gravitating toward jazz piano at age twelve, Hill began studying with Lee Shaw. By age sixteen, Hill was performing at clubs in the tri-city area and made his first New York City appearance sitting in at Smalls Jazz Club. He was accepted into the Jazz Conservatory at SUNY Purchase where he studied jazz piano with Charles Blenzig and Hal Galper. After graduating cum laude in 2004 he moved to New York City to immerse himself in the vibrant jazz culture.
In addition to performing at all the major jazz clubs in NYC, Hill has performed across the U.S., as well as international appearances in Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Qatar, Romania, South Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. As a sideman, Hill has had the opportunity to perform with Jeff "Tain" Watts, Charles Tolliver, Wallace Roney, Jeremy Pelt, Bobby Watson, Victor Bailey, Lenny White, Roy Ayers, Harvey Mason, Frank Lacy, Essiet Essiet, Victor Jones, Bill Saxton, J.D Allen, Tim Green, Willie Jones III, Curtis Lundy, David Weiss, Carmen Lundy, Gregory Porter as well as many other master musicians.
Hill has performed with The Charles Tolliver Big Band, The Captain Black Big Band, The Josh Evans Big Band and is currently a member of The Mingus Big Band and Mingus Dynasty band. He has also performed or recorded with Eddie Henderson, Nicholas Payton, Josh Evans, Dave Liebman, Vincent Herring, Steve Wilson, Marcus Strickland, Stacy Dillard, Logan Richardson, Gerald Cannon, "Burniss" Earl Travis, Ben Williams, Lewis Nash, Ralph Peterson, Winard Harper, E.J. Strickland, Marcus Gilmore, Obed Calvaire and Justin Brown. Hill also conducts master classes, teaches privately, and works as a private lesson instructor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and at the Collective School of Music.
One of Hill’s passions outside of jazz is surfing, and he enjoys time in Costa Rica and the adventures it offers.
Theo Hill has emerged as one of the top voices in jazz piano and returns with a new album full of original compositions and expressive musicality. His keyboarding adventures continue with Reality Check (2020 Posi-Tone) which features the rising star Joel Ross on vibraphone, diverse bassist Rashaan Carter, and expressive drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. Writing all but three of the songs on the album, Hill is connecting with the listener at his highest level yet.
This is Hill’s third record for Posi-Tone and follows Interstellar Adventures (2018) and Promethean (2017). Hill released his debut album, Theo Hill Quartet Live at Smalls in 2015. Hill is also on the piano chair for the successful release by New Faces titled Straight Forward. This group of Posi-Tone leaders brings the spirit of the label to record.
Born in Albany, New York, Hill began to study classical piano with Taubman Technique specialist Mary Moran at the age of five. Gravitating toward jazz piano at age twelve, Hill began studying with Lee Shaw. By age sixteen, Hill was performing at clubs in the tri-city area and made his first New York City appearance sitting in at Smalls Jazz Club. He was accepted into the Jazz Conservatory at SUNY Purchase where he studied jazz piano with Charles Blenzig and Hal Galper. After graduating cum laude in 2004 he moved to New York City to immerse himself in the vibrant jazz culture.
In addition to performing at all the major jazz clubs in NYC, Hill has performed across the U.S., as well as international appearances in Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Qatar, Romania, South Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. As a sideman, Hill has had the opportunity to perform with Jeff "Tain" Watts, Charles Tolliver, Wallace Roney, Jeremy Pelt, Bobby Watson, Victor Bailey, Lenny White, Roy Ayers, Harvey Mason, Frank Lacy, Essiet Essiet, Victor Jones, Bill Saxton, J.D Allen, Tim Green, Willie Jones III, Curtis Lundy, David Weiss, Carmen Lundy, Gregory Porter as well as many other master musicians.
Hill has performed with The Charles Tolliver Big Band, The Captain Black Big Band, The Josh Evans Big Band and is currently a member of The Mingus Big Band and Mingus Dynasty band. He has also performed or recorded with Eddie Henderson, Nicholas Payton, Josh Evans, Dave Liebman, Vincent Herring, Steve Wilson, Marcus Strickland, Stacy Dillard, Logan Richardson, Gerald Cannon, "Burniss" Earl Travis, Ben Williams, Lewis Nash, Ralph Peterson, Winard Harper, E.J. Strickland, Marcus Gilmore, Obed Calvaire and Justin Brown. Hill also conducts master classes, teaches privately, and works as a private lesson instructor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and at the Collective School of Music.
One of Hill’s passions outside of jazz is surfing, and he enjoys time in Costa Rica and the adventures it offers.