THEO HILL

PIANIST/KEYBOARDIST/COMPOSER

Theo Hill is a pianist, keyboardist, composer and educator who is emerging as one of the top young voices in jazz piano. Born in Albany, New York, he began to study classical piano with Taubman Technique specialist Mary Moran at the age of five. He gravitated toward jazz studying piano at age twelve with Lee Shaw, a protégé of Oscar Peterson becoming a four-year-member of the Empire State Youth Jazz Orchestra and College of St. Rose Jazz Ensemble. By age sixteen, he 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. He was also chosen to serve as a two-year member of the Purchase Jazz Orchestra as well as the New York Youth Symphony’s Jazz Band Classic and received the Director’s Award for Commitment and Achievement for its 2003-2004 season. After graduating cum laude in 2004 he moved to New York City to immerse himself in the vibrant jazz culture. Theo has performed in hundreds of venues including Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Smalls, 55 Bar, The Jazz Standard, Zinc Bar, Lenox Lounge, Minton's Playhouse, Bill's Place, Smoke, St. Nick’s Pub, Cleopatra’s Needle, Fat Cat, Shapeshifter Lab, Nublu, and The Jazz Gallery. He has also performed at festivals and concerts in over 30 states as well as international appearances in Australia, Austria, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, South Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. As a sideman Theo has had the opportunity to perform with Charles Tolliver, Wallace Roney, Jeremy Pelt, Bobby Watson, Victor Bailey, Lenny White, Roy Ayers, Dennis Davis, Frank Lacy, Essiet Essiet, Victor Jones, Bill Saxton, J.D Allen, Byron Landham, Tim Green, Willie Jones III, Curtis Lundy, David Weiss, Hamiett Bluiett, Carmen Lundy, Gregory Porter as well as many other master musicians. He has also performed and/or recorded with Jeff "Tain" Watts, Nicholas Payton, Josh Evans, Dave Liebman, Vincent Herring, Marcus Strickland, Dayna Stephens, Stacy Dillard, Logan Richardson, Ben Williams, Lewis Nash, Ralph Peterson, E.J. Strickland, "Burniss" Earl Travis, Marcus Gilmore, Obed Calvaire, Justin Brown, Joe Sanders and Rodney Green. Theo leads groups of like minded musicians who allow him to explore compositions through collective improvisation. Theo works as a bandleader and as an in demand sideman performing, composing and recording in New York City and touring around the world. Theo also conducts master classes and works as a private lesson instructor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.