The music on
Cocktails at Eight, mostly piano solos by
Lisa Hilton although there are also three trio numbers and one with strings and woodwinds, is meant to be relaxing and soothing background music.
Hilton has fine musicianship, but she generally sticks to laid-back tempos, unadventurous improvisations, and so-so melodies. Some of the performances border on new age, and the jazz soloing sticks fairly close to the themes. Perhaps one should not look for something in this album that is not here, and just accept it on its own terms, as background for romantic evenings. ~ Scott Yanow