I've been incredibly fortunate to work with many amazing musicians, including:
Mike Longo, Moby, Dred Scott, Valery Ponomarev, Arturo O'Farrill, Bob Dorough, Joel Frahm, Joe Cohn, Joshua Wolff, Larry Fuller, Bill Anschell, Adam Rafferty, Don Braden, the list goes on...
My jazz/cabaret project, West 73rd, includes pianist Frank Ponzio, bassist Peter Donovan, and drummer Vito Lesczak, and of course, yours truly on vocals.
Influences
Musical Influences: My first job was singing Patsy Cline tunes in bars in my hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. I went on to get a classical voice degree while fronting big bands and smaller jazz groups. I've sung in choirs, operas, a vocal jazz quartet and musical theatre productions. I guess you could say my influences are very eclectic.
Other Influences: NEW YORK CITY, baby! And I suppose I have to also cite a childhood in Alaska as pretty formative...lapsed Catholicism and a burgeoning Buddhist practice...I've learned a lot from Dorothy Parker, J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Ruth Reichl, Frances Mayes, MFK Fisher (I love food and travel writing; in another life I want THAT job), When Harry Met Sally, and much of Woody Allen's earlier work.
Most of all: ANYONE brave enough to express him- or herself with integrity and joy...especially my family, my friends, and the amazing musicians I am privileged to call collaborators.
"The present in New York is so powerful that the past is lost."
--John Jay Chapman
I share my August 22 birthday with Dorothy Parker, Claude Debussy, and John Lee Hooker. I believe New York to be the greatest city on earth; I'm thankful every day for the opportunity to live here and collaborate with so many wonderful musicians.
Official bio:
Originally hailing from Wasilla, Alaska, classically trained vocalist Hilary Gardner arrived in New York in 2003. Since then, Hilary has performed in many of New York’s top venues, such as Iridium, Birdland, Sweet Rhythm, the Jazz Standard, and the Allen Room at Lincoln Center.
In 2005 Hilary headlined a concert at the Moscow Philharmonic's Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Russia with Jazz Messenger and trumpet star Valery Ponomarev. The same year, Hilary toured throughout Germany with the Twinz Record label.
Critics praised Hilary for her vocal contributions to Oasis, the 2004 release by the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble, led by Mike Longo, longtime Dizzy Gillespie associate. She has also recorded a Christmas album, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
As a guest vocalist, Hilary has appeared on recordings with Manhattan Transfer’s Janis Siegel, vocal jazz quartet Monday Off, indie-pop singer/songwriter Amiel, and jazz crooner Charles Darden, among others.
Hilary is the voice of West 73rd, a jazz-inflected cabaret project in collaboration with pianist/producer Frank Ponzio, bassist Peter Donovan, and drummer Vito Lesczak. Their CD, A Song About Forever (CAP), celebrates the music of Kurt Weill and was nominated for a MAC Award for “Best Jazz Recording of 2008.”
Hilary is currently collaborating with multi-platinum recording artist Moby on original music. Moby features Hilary on his critically acclaimed 2009 release, Wait For Me.
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Ciao Hilary ,thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. you are fantastic ..really. you are one of my prefeitis talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy neal
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hello! Just wanted to drop in and let you know that pre-orders for my new jazz standards album "Bittersweet" are now taking place! The first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed copy! Release date is set for May 19th, but you will get your copy a few days earlier! Kate and I are very excited about the record, and we can't wait for you to hear it. Head over to www.bittersweetthealbum.com to pre-order! Thanks! ~Mark
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