Home » Jazz Musicians » Pamela Hines

Pamela Hines

Pianist/composer Pamela Hines has been a prolific presence in the world of jazz. Her creative stamina has established her as an artist who presents to her audiences a newness, individuality and freshness that have made her piano style identifiable. She has received critical acclaim for edgy instrumental compositions and originals for jazz vocalists that are more at home in the modern American Songbook.

New release! "The Music of Richard Whiting" is now available! John Lockwood- bass and Miki Matsuki- drums. Liner notes by Scott Yanow. Dan McClenaghan says,"The first thirty seconds of a listening experience sets the tone. The disc spins, and music emerges. It's Richard Whiting's "Sleepy Time Gal." And it just might be the loveliest thing pianist Pamela Hines has ever recorded, languid and syrupy, with the trio that includes bassist John Lockwood and drummer Miki Matsuki. Her trio mates are as locked into the tune's concept—and Hines' concept—as they can be. The Music of Richard Whiting is Hines' album-long tribute to the Great American Songbook master whose Broadway film scoring career happened in the 1920s and 30s. With music from that earlier end of Songbook spectrum, a danger of over-quaintness presents itself. It is difficult to imagine a song like Whiting's "On The Good Ship Lollipop"—the tune Shirley Temple sang for the 1934 movie Bright Eyes—getting a credible jazz treatment. And Hines and her trio don't go there. What they do undertake are reinventions of eight of Whitings' finest works, with re-harmonizations and modern chord voicings, and a deep affection for the melodies. This is a highlight-packed outing: "My Ideal" is played with a relaxed gorgeousness; "Guilty," a Bing Crosby ballad, turns playful and full of life here, with a Hines displaying a crisp, zingy piano touch. "Beyond The Blue Horizon" gets a languid Latin tinge; and "She's Funny That Way"—a Billie Holiday favorite—comes straight at you in the opening, leading into some marvelous introspective improvisation by Hines. "Too Marvelous For Words" is probably Whiting's most popular song. The trio soups it up, gives it a nudge toward the modern direction. Again, Hines is spirited and inspired. So are her trio mates. An important component of the success here is the sound. The drums and bass are a bit up in the mix, so everything they are doing comes through, and what they are doing keeps things on a sharp edge, with a muscular and enlivened approach that cranks things up into the top notch. John Lockwood and Miki Matsuki aren't soft-brushing subtle backdrops; they are agitating, splashing bright colors around. Doing a recording that sticks with the music of one songwriter adds a thematic cohesion to the affair, though that approach seems to be out of fashion. That wasn't always the case. Hines' celebration of Richard Whitings' artistry brings to mind the two separate series of albums that Oscar Peterson put out in the 1950s on Verve Records, each album celebrating a separate songwriter (George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, etc.), available now as Oscar Peterson Plays (2017) and Oscar Peterson: The Songbooks(2018). Hines and this trio could do that, very successfully, says The Music of Richard Whiting. And that first thirty seconds of enchantment—it never lets up. Track Listing: Sleepy Time Gal; My Ideal; Guilty; Beyond the Blue Horizon; She's Funny That Way; Too Marvelous For Words; Ain't We Got Fun; When Did You Leave Heaven?

Read more

Tags

5
Album Review

Pamela Hines Trio: The Music of Richard Whiting

Read "The Music of Richard Whiting" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The first thirty seconds of a listening experience sets the tone. The disc spins, and music emerges. It's Richard Whiting's “Sleepy Time Gal." And it just might be the loveliest thing pianist Pamela Hines has ever recorded, languid and syrupy, with the trio that includes bassist John Lockwood and drummer Miki Matsuki. Her trio mates are as locked into the tune's concept--and Hines' concept--as they can be. The Music of Richard Whiting is Hines' album-long tribute to the ...

7
Album Review

Pamela Hines Trio: Thrive!

Read "Thrive!" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Pianist Pamela Hines 2013 CD offering, 3.2.1 (Spice Rack Records), was an immersion in the standards, with a big nod to the iconic Bill Evans. It was, perhaps, a bit of a writing respite for Hines, who is a supremely talented tune-smith. She's back, song-writing talents intact, energized even, on this all originals set, Thrive!. Opening with “Emma's Room," Hines and her backing trio-- Dave Clark on bass and Les Harris holding down the drum chair--make a sound ...

4
Album Review

Pamela Hines Trio: 3.2.1.

Read "3.2.1." reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Pianist Pamela Hines has been busy on the jazz scene for fifteen years, producing many excellent CDs featuring her quartets and quintets, as well as pairings with several top-notch vocalists. A first-rate composer of engaging and memorable tunes who put out one of the coolest Christmas albums, New Christmas (Spice Rack, 2008), she should be better known. 3.2.1, a superb, mostly trio affair, might just push her profile closer to where it belongs.Most of Hines' recordings, including New ...

231
Album Review

Pamela Hines Trio: Moon Germs

Read "Moon Germs" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Recording the real first varied-style, high energy album of her career, pianist Pamela Hines unveils Moon Germs, titled after the Joe Farrell composition, with longtime band mates, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti, on an eclectic blend of driving rhythms and freer interpretations of modern jazz. With this album, Hines attempts a different approach and a new twist to some familiar music. She wastes no time accepting the challenge, proceeding to play the opening “Let's Fall In Love" as ...

222
Album Review

Pamela Hines: This Heart Of Mine

Read "This Heart Of Mine" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


It's always tempting to say that any bright young musician who plays the ivory keys with a sound that's delightful and, sometimes, defined by silence has descended artistically from musicians like Paul Bley or Bill Evans. These kinds of generalizations can be overzealous; but despite the clear influence in the case of pianist Pamela Hines' This Heart Of Mine, her ability suggests more than simple imitation. Pamela Hines' melodic lines sing, seemingly drawn from a school of ...

502
Album Review

Pamela Hines: New Christmas

Read "New Christmas" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Following Pamela Hines' career proves that the Boston-based pianist/composer is very good at three things (at least): swinging in the piano trio format, playing behind female vocalists, and writing engaging jazz tunes in both of those endeavors.

New Christmas is Hines' second CD foray into holiday music. It is a beautifully hip outing, eschewing the standard Christmas fair in favor of her own top notch tunes.

She brings a first-rate trio (bassist Dave Landoni ...

226
Album Review

Pamela Hines Trio: Return

Read "Return" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Following in the footsteps of Drop 2 (Spice Rack Records, 2006), pianist Pamela Hines and her trio returns for an even better example of the jazz piano trio, augmented by guest saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. Her rhythm section of bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti remain intact.

Commentary on Hines' previous albums has underscored a similarity to Bill Evans, a sentiment not to be taken lightly. On tunes like Rodgers & Hart's “My Heart Stood Still" ...

Read more articles
50

Recording

Pamela Hines Trio Releases "Moon Germs"

Pamela Hines Trio Releases "Moon Germs"

Source: Pamela Hines

Moon Germs, titled after the Joe Farrell tune, features Pamela Hines on piano, John Lockwood on bass and Bob Gullotti on drums. Special guests Darren Barrett on trumpet and Greg Dudzienski on tenor saxophone really make a pair of Hines' compositions come alive. This 2010 Spicerack Records release is the pianist's most adventuresome and eclectic set to date. Available on CDBaby Album Notes Pamela Hines's previous CD, This Heart Of Mine, was a thoughtful set of solo piano improvisations that, ...

196

Recording

Pianist Pamela Hines Releases "This Heart of Mine"

Pianist Pamela Hines Releases "This Heart of Mine"

Source: Michael Ricci

John Lennon meets Duke Ellington. That’s the innovative merging created by jazz pianist Pamela Hines on her new solo CD release, This Heart of Mine, on Spice Rack Records. Jazz critic Scott Yanow says, “As is obvious from listening to this music, nothing is missing. During the well paced and consistently intriguing program, Pamela Hines performs fresh and often-surprising versions of songs." The first refreshing musical surprise is the first track where Hines has merged “Reflections in D" by Duke ...

261

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pamela Hines

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pamela Hines

Source: Michael Ricci


218

Performance / Tour

April Hall, Mark Poniatowski and Pamela Hines at the AJC on March 8th

April Hall, Mark Poniatowski and Pamela Hines at the AJC on March 8th

Source: All About Jazz


202

Performance / Tour

Pamela Hines Trio with Patrice Williamson at AJC on December 12

Pamela Hines Trio with Patrice Williamson at AJC on December 12

Source: Kari-On Productions

Patrice Williamson will sing songs from Pamela Hines's latest New Christmas. The Boston vocalist has made a name for herself with scat talents and with the vocal group ESP. $10.00 cover, Acton Jazz Cafe (MA) show starts at 7:00 pm.

Acton Jazz Cafe 452 The Great Road (Behind the Collage Mall) Acton, MA 01720 978-263-6161

About Patrice Williamson Some people are just born to music. Patrice Williamson’s childhood ...

110

Performance / Tour

Patrice Williamson with Pamela Hines at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Patrice Williamson with Pamela Hines at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Source: Kari-On Productions


224

Performance / Tour

Vocalist Monica Hatch with Pamela Hines

Vocalist Monica Hatch with Pamela Hines

Source: Kari-On Productions

Jazz vocalist Monica Hatch with pianist Pamela Hines will perform the 7:00pm show on Friday, May 30th, at the Acton Jazz Cafe in Acton, MA. Hatch has a lyrical jazz style and improv skills to make every standard fresh. About Monica Hatch Born and raised in Connecticut in a family of nine children, Monica Hatch was drawn to both classical music and jazz from the beginning of her musical journey. Influenced by her parents love of music (her father was ...

156

Performance / Tour

Patrice Williamson with Pamela Hines

Patrice Williamson with Pamela Hines

Source: Kari-On Productions


100

Award / Grant

Pamela Hines Trio Climbs the Charts Again, and Lands at #13 on the JazzWeek Chart, After 3 Weeks of Promotion.

Pamela Hines Trio Climbs the Charts Again, and Lands at #13 on the JazzWeek Chart, After 3 Weeks of Promotion.

Source: Kari-On Productions

Pamela Hines Trio climbs the charts again, and lands at #13 on the Jazzweek Chart, after 3 weeks of Promotion. Chart Status at Jazzweek Jazz Panel: Week One: Chartbound and Most Added Week Two: #28 and Most Added Week Three: #13 Return, recorded in 2007 for a January of 2008 release, features Pamela Hines shining in her most stellar offering to date, a combination of well placed standards among the outstanding Hines compositions highlighted ...

88

Event

Pamela Hines Trio at Cachaca on Feb 7th

Pamela Hines Trio at Cachaca on Feb 7th

Source: Kari-On Productions


H. Allen Williams writes on Jazz Times.com, August, 2012," Hines is the epitome of what is great about jazz, her ability to create edgy jazz instrumentals in one cut, then turn on a dime and bring forth the most inspiring rendition of an arrangement of a classic standard, not to mention her ability to write complex but listenable melodies for vocalists is truly the cornerstone of her appeal as a composer and pianist. Hines is one of those jazz artists I predict will remain a household name long after she leaves this journey for her next adventure, her impact on jazz is permanent, but continues to inspire listeners, like a welcomed friend you look forward to seeing. She is a composer you have to drink in and savor to truly absorb the entire message. One listen will not give you the story or pinpoint the answer, she is an artist you have to spend time listening to her discography to hear the theme to her message and once you do, it will be time well spent and you will come out the other end with a satisfying experience, thankfully you can revisit over and over again through her recordings."

Read more

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Thrive!

Spice Rack Records
2014

buy

3.2.1.

Spice Rack Records
2013

buy

Moon Germs

Self Produced
2010

buy

This Heart Of Mine

Spice Rack Records
2009

buy

New Christmas

Spice Rack Records
2008

buy

To The Street

From: Hall Sings Hines
By Pamela Hines

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.