The New York Sessions

Lisa Hilton has surrounded herself with an all-star supporting cast, so The New York Sessions looks promising on the surface. But the pianist is not a particularly distinctive improviser, sounding more like a middle-of-the-road performer rather than a jazz player on far too many of the selections. Her originals often tend to border on new age, while the jazzier selections are arranged so conservatively that her fellow musicians (including alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash) aren't really properly showcased. Two bland interpretations of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" don't help matters at all. Even proven vehicles like "Emily" and "Epistrophy" are disappointing in her hands.