To an untrained ear you may believe Jazz has accents on 2 / 4 and uses tied triplets in each measure. You may have heard Jazz is performed by small groups with trumpets, saxophones, guitars, drums, bass players, maybe some vocals, and piano. It is true that there is Jazz that has characteristics like this but just because it has these components does not make it Jazz.

Greg Hillman

When you find music in categories Jazz comes from a tradition of many artists. You may find DJs performing on a Jazz albums or even spoken word artists but to be called Jazz the music must come from the tradition of Jazz.

Please leave your comments and I will help you understand more about the tradition of Jazz.

Most of this understanding comes from University of Washington Music professor Marc Seales and Olympic College Professor Kent Curris.

-Gregory Hillman
Life Long Student Of Music

Gregory Hillman at Canters Kibitz Room On November 14 2009

On Saturday, November 14, 2009 in Hollywood California Gregory Hillman performed live piano at Canter's Kibitz Room on Piano with other live artists.  The show started at 10:45 PM. The music included originals and covers.

Canters Deli Kibitz Room History

Gregory has performed at Canter's Kibitz Room for about three years on keyboards.  Each of the performance included originals and covers performed by local Los Angeles artists.  Many of the previous performance have been recorded and video taped.  Guests can contact Gregory directly to hear and see some of the previous performances at Canter's Deli and Kibitz Room. This Saturday performance on November 14, 2009 was video taped and recorded.

Location of Canter's Kibitz Room

The Kibitz Room is located right next to Canter's Deli in Hollywood California.  Parking is available on the street or in paid / unpaid lots about a block away.  Plan to be at the venue around 9:00 PM to ensure that you have great seats.  A full menu and drinks are available all night during Gregory Hillman's performance.

For more information about Gregory Hillman's performance or for directions to this venue please call Canter's Deli directly at (323) 651-2030.

Another place that is still alive and thriving is the massive drum circle in Venice right next to Santa Monica.  Almost every day there are hundreds of people playing music together on the beach.

Live Music For Yoga in Santa Monica

Yoga studios in Santa Monica have also become a heaven for live music.  Many of the studios now hire people to perform while students take classes.  This helps the students relax through various positions and really adds to the class.  If you are interested in booking Gregory Hillman for a yoga class please contact him directly at contact@gregoryhillman.com.  Performing various sitar and relaxing sounds on keyboards is enjoyable, simple, and really makes the yoga class stand out.

Canters Deli Fairfax Ave

Canter's Deli has a room right next to that also has a passage to the deli called the Kibitiz Room.  This place is pretty small, has limited seating, but has some really great acts in Hollywood.  Gregory Hillman has been performing live at the Kibitz room for over 2 years and if you are interested in seeing him perform live please contact him directly for a full schedule at contact@gregoryhillman.com.  When you are going to the Kibitz Room be sure to check for parking on the street if it is after hours and then in the lots that are next door.  They do have great tomatoes.

Kibitz Room:

419 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90036

Live Music in Oxnard

Oxnard California has been a smaller farming and commercial community for many years and the music scene there has been less than desireable.  Recently in the last few years adventurous business owners have started places to improve the music scene.  Gregory Hillman always tries to help new music venues like the Experi-Mental Cafe in Oxnard California.

Gregory Hillman in Oxnard California

If you are interested in seeing Gregory Hillman perform live in Oxnard California.  The best way to find out when the next time Gregory is performing is to email him directly for a complete list of future performances.

Ventura Art Walk

Almost every season there is an Art Walk in Ventura County.  Most people call it the "Ventura Art Walk" and there are many bands and artists that are paid by the city to perform each time.  It is a really wonderful event and people enjoyed the street scene and the art.  Gregory Hillman enjoys performing at the Ventura Art Walk frequently and is available to perform at other city art walk events all over the United States.  Please email contact@gregoryhillman.com if you are interested in booking Gregory Hillman for your next city event like the one shown here in this photo of the Ventura Art Walk.

Corporate Events with Gregory Hillman

Gregory Hillman has performed at many live corporate events including this one at the Hyatt in Centry City for the ICRF.  Normally Gregory Hillman performs with a full band at large events but he also performs solo on keyboards and with DJs.  Gregory does book corporate events about three months in advance so please email him directly at contact@gregoryhillman.com if you are interested in booking him for your next event.  If you would like a complete list of Corporate Events that Gregory Hillman has performed in Los Angeles please contact Gregory Hillman directly.  His piano performances have been heard through out all of the US at non-profit events and for profit corporations.  Deposits for Gregory Hillman at corporate events start at $3000.0o.

Piano Lessons in Marina del Rey

The lessons will focus on Tonal Music Theory, Jazz analysis, dictation, transcription, and improvisation. Please send your educational goals and contact information or contact me for your first trial month of lessons. Your first month is $300 which includes 4 one hour lessons. Lessons are great for youth or adults.

Piano Educator Background

My background is in piano performance, recording, and live performance tours with independent and signed bands since 1985. I also took piano as a child and at the University of Washington Jazz studies program under Marc Seales from 1996-2000. I frequently play in Jazz combos at venues and on cruise boats including Roy Hargrove Monterey Jazz cruises and Kent Curris from Olympic College in 1995. I have been teaching music education since 1993 for High School students (Tadd Morris and Multi Dementional Educational Resource Center), private adult and youth lessons, college students, and professional adults. I also take lessons and believe that education is part of being a professional. Please contact me today to reserve your lesson or to find out more details. Thank you.

Are you interested in leaning about how music is created?

Would you like to create music yourself?

Would you like to understand music theory and how why notes are put together?

Don't have a keyboard, piano, or organ?

I can help. Studio locations in Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, and Marina del Rey!

B.A. University of Washington - Jazz Studies - History and Analysis - Transcription - Dictation - Sight Reading - Music Promotion - Live Performance -

Boardwalk

- $300 Per Month. Includes: 1 lesson new lesson CD and up to 4 one hour lessons once a week.

Check out 2 Free music education books a week from our library.

Sidewalk

- $500 Per Month. Includes: 1 new custom lesson CD or Email of your choice and up to 4 one hour lessons once a week.

Check out 2 Free music education books a week from our library.

Freeway

- $1000 Per Month Includes: 1 new custom lesson CD or Email of your choice and up to 4 one hour lessons once a week.

1 private performance per month at any venue.

1 exclusive performance or lesson related DVD each month.

1 possible live performance and up to 2 group lessons per month.

1 unit worth of music promotion each month ($100 value).

1 hour of studio recording time each month.

Check out 4 Free music education books a week from our library.

http://www.gregoryhillman.com email:contact@gregoryhillman.com

Marinapalooza Music Festival

Majestic Ventura Theater

This photo shows Gregory Hillman on Keyboards during a performance at the Majestic Ventura Theater.  This performance also included the Neville Brothers.  If you are interested in finding out when Gregory Hillman is performing next at the Ventura Theater please send an email to contact@gregoryhillman.com

Majestic Ventura Theater Address:

26 S Chestnut St. Ventura, CA 93001

Live Ventura Photos

Gregory Hillman can be seen here in Ventura County with Bobby Campbell.  Gregory Hillman has been performing live music with Bobby for over 5 years at venues all over Ventura California including the Experi-Mental Cafe, Beach Combers, Wine Lovers, Ciscos, and many private events.  Music in Ventura County would not be the same with out Bobby Cambell and Gregory Hillman's live public performances over the last few years.  They have been performing Jazz and other music in ventura on over 300 nights.  In one case Gregory Hillman performed with Bobby in Ventura County for over 14 hours straight on Cinco de Mayo in Thousand Oaks Ventura California.

Music In Ventura

History of K250

June 1984 K250 released to the public.
February 1985 Version 2.0 released.
May 1985 Daughter Board released.
October 1985 Version 2.2 available.
March 1986 Version 3.1 available.
August 186 Version 3.2 available.
March Version 4.1 available.

The Kurzweil K250 is a tool that is used for the creation of music. It includes a keyboard editor, instrument voicing editor, sound modeling program, MIDI, sequencer, and software utilities. Players will find a large instrument list along with various keyboard setups. It has a 12 voice polyphonic digital synthesizer.

Artists that have used the K250 Keyboard

Many notable artists have used the K250 in live performance and studio sessions. Artists that use the K250:

Herbie Hancock
Prince
Stevie Wonder

St. John in the USVIs is the hot spot for great live Jazz on the beach.  Performing with the local bands is a challenging event for most educated musicians because they have the time and dedication to Jazz that will challenge the out-of-practice musician.  It is also rare to see a clarinet perform live Jazz these days but this is the normal procedure at The Beach Bar in the United States Virgin Islands.  One of the things that people seem to enjoy the most is switching up the musicians during and in between tunes.  This can surprise the audience and any artist that is performing live on stage and it adds an element of community and team work.  Please enjoy this video of Gregory Hillman performing live Jazz keyboards with a local trumpet player in St. John.

The following video is a live performance of Gregory Hillman at The Beach Bar in St. John at the USVIs. The standard is Stolen Moments.