Timothy Hill - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Timothy Hill is a singer, guitarist, pianist and composer, crafting simple and direct music with an economy of means. He is interested in music as a higher form of communication, as a repository of essential truths, as a vehicle for transmission and transformation. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, he gave his creative impulses free rein, writing songs, performing in groups playing everything from folk to rock to jazz to abstract sound. He formed a group called The Glass Orchestra, in which all the instruments were made of glass, and was invited to perform in a work by John Cage, led by the composer. Moving to New York, he continued to follow his unpredictable path. He joined David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, the premier overtone singing ensemble in the world, at an early stage in the group's history. Through his work with Hykes and the Choir, Hill has a been a trailblazer in discovering new possibilities for the voice. He met Keith Jarrett, with whom he worked closely on several projects, including an unreleased recording on percussion and folk instruments, and he became a student of Hindustani vocal music with singer Sheila Dhar. Other experiences that had a powerful effect on Hill included playing piano in a band that included Bill Frisell on guitar, and in a one-night-only band with Jeff Buckley. In the mid-Nineties, Hill devoted himself once again to his first love, songwriting. He toured with Rebecca Martin, Larry John McNally and Frank Tedesso, and was a guest artist on recordings by Katell Keineg and Dorothy Scott (with Brian Blade on drums!!!). Recent and current projects include working with David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, vocal research group Weave, outsider urban folk trio Cunningham, Crigler and Hill (with Chris Cunningham and Jason Crigler), contemporary gospel band River (with Jane Kelly Williams), and the band Wayfarer with Brandon Ross, Doug Weiss and Jeff Haynes. He has produced three CDs of his songs: This Bright World, The Human Place, and Spirit's Body.For more info and to purchase: http://cdbaby.com/group/timothyhillmusic

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/18/2006
Band Website: timothyhillmusic.com
Band Members: Some of the wonderful musicians who have performed and/or recorded with Timothy: Brandon Ross, Doug Weiss, George Javori, Jason Crigler, Chris Cunningham, Michelle Kinney, Larry John McNally, Steve Gorn, Hugh Sicotte, Kenny Wolleson, Jeff Haynes, Keith Witty, Steve Cardenas, Motomi Igarashi, Lindsey Horner
Influences: "From an early age I heard the earliest recordings of Odetta, Alan Lomax, and The Clancy Brothers. I've been listening to Bob Dylan for so long I sometimes mistake him for an uncle. 'Round the time I started writing songs I was listening a lot to Fred Neil, The Band, George Harrison, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Tim Buckley, Joni Mitchell, and much later, Leonard Cohen, all of whom still mean something to me. Then I began to hear Miles Davis and John Coltrane, who showed so much about attention, risk, and heart, that I am still learning from them. Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and The Art Ensemble of Chicago showed further possibilities. Hearing an early Chick Corea record made me want to play jazz piano, and hearing Keith Jarrett cinched the deal. I think Bill Evans is wonderful but would never mistake him for an uncle. A few unsung heroes of modern jazz piano for me are Paul Bley and Alice Coltrane. Aside from the aformentioned folksingers, early on I was inspired by Milton Nascimento, and Leon Thomas. I think Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson are national treasures. I always wondered why jazz singers didn't sound like John Coltrane. Then I heard Indian Classical vocal music and understood. The first time I heard my teacher, Sheila Dhar, it was pure love. My guitar playing is influenced by Charlie Haden and Gary Peacock (they both play bass), although I appreciate the guitar playing of the aforementioned Willie for his simplcity and directness, plus Jerry Garcia and Frank Zappa, for sounding like they are in love with the notes they play, to the point that they almost never sound "cool". They are not "guitar gods". They are like sloppy kissers. I love the classical musics of India, Iran, Turkey, and related territories, and often turn to them for sustenance. Vina player Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (India), oud player Munir Bachir (Iraq), oud player Hamza El Din (Egypt), tanbur player Turgun Alimatov (Uzbekistan), and singer Kani Karaca (Turkey) are among those who inspire me. I love the solo instrumental works of J.S. Bach. The late piano sonatas and string quartets of Beethoven, as well as his 3rd, 6th and 9th symphonies. Certain pieces by Bartok and Messaien. I am sympathetic to the "minimalists", particularly Terry Riley. Irish traditional music is like soul music to me. The first record by the Bothy Band is a classic. Everyone should have some music from Mali. And Brazil."
Record Label: Field Recording Co.
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Joni Mtchell Shine

JONI MITCHELL SHINEIt is interesting to contrast this album with BLUE, from the somber tones of the artwork (these are two of the few of Joni's albums without her vividly colored artwork on the cover)...
Posted by Timothy Hill on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:50:00 PST

Alice Coltrane

Back in the 1980s I once met the bass player Reggie Workman putting up posters at Astor Place for an Alice Coltrane concert to be held at Carnegie Hall. The posters read, "A Concert of Spiritual Musi...
Posted by Timothy Hill on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:20:00 PST

RIP: His Bad Self

James Brown created some of the most elegant musical structures of the 20th century. Intricate, precise, economical, exciting, and of course, funky! The more I grow as a musician, the more his music ...
Posted by Timothy Hill on Mon, 25 Dec 2006 10:57:00 PST

For New Orleans

I am very pleased to be a part of Sugarfoot Music's FOR NEW ORLEANS, abenefit CD for Habitat for Humanity's Musician's Village being built inNew Orleans' Lower 9th Ward for musicians displaced by Hurr...
Posted by Timothy Hill on Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:00:00 PST

What I've been listening to

what I have been listening to lately:Brandon Ross / Costume -- Brandon is a guitarist with an exquisite touch and a profound relationship to silence. This record is all acoustic, with various instru...
Posted by Timothy Hill on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:35:00 PST

Michael O'Domhnaill

It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of Michael O Domhniall, the great Irish guitarist and singer. I first heard Michael on the first Bothy Band record, The Bothy Band 1975. That record...
Posted by Timothy Hill on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:21:00 PST