Richard Hill Jr.

Wilmington

Richard Hill Jr.

Established
Jazz: Composition

“I want my music to encourage children and adults to take a moment and embrace the diversity that Delaware offers.”

Richard Hill, Jr., has been deeply involved in making music since his high school days. A Philadelphia native, he grew up with his parents and younger sister in that city’s vibrant jazz milieu, and in 2014 his exceptional bass playing garnered him an award from Philly’s legendary home of jazz greats, the Clef Club.

Hill’s very busy career has included performances with national and internaltional jazz legends like Bobby Zankel, Sumi Tonooka, Wynton Marsalis, Bilal, Nicholas Payton, and even the United States Army Band. He has recorded with Javon Jackson and Jill Scott, among others, and was a resident composing artist at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

“All Mocking Tongue,” 2023
Length of full work: 12 minutes 50 seconds
Role in creation: Composer

In 2022, Hill married, and he and his wife moved to Wilmington, where they now live. Since arriving in the First State, as he did in Philadelphia he has avidly immersed himself in the jazz scene, collaborating with Delaware artists like Gerald Chavis, Tony Smith, and Fostina Dixon (also a Division Award winner).

Hill’s current – and most personal – project is the dance of diversity, a suite that employs the “rhythms of the various micro communities in Wilmington.” Quoting the great Charlie Parker, Hill feels that “now is the time” for it. One of his great rewards is “seeing my past students becoming the light.”

One of Hill’s early influences was the great 20^th century giant Billy Strayhorn, “whose use of melodies really touches your soul.” And one of his first professional jobs as a musician was connecting with the music of another great – he worked at Philadelphia’s Annenberg Theatre in a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, a musical based on the life and music of Fats Waller.

“Center City,” 2023
Length of full work 12 minutes
Role in creation: Composer

He feels strongly that jazz allows you to “be in the moment. In our digital world, we forget about the importance of the ‘now’.” But Hill also enjoys listening to gospel music and putting together the comedy and jazz concerts with his wife “that anyone at any age can enjoy.” During the pandemic, as Hill worked to help a brick-and-mortar school “navigate to a virtual model,” he felt fortunate to be able to communicate directly with artists worldwide – from Africa, Europe, and South America.

Like many jazz artists, Hill is challenged by “finding places to present my work.” He does find Delaware a “beautiful place,” though, and hopes that he’ll have an opportunity to present his music here so that “my work will continue to grow.” The timely award from the Division is something that he feels will certainly enable that growth. Hill is “greatly humbled and appreciative of the DDOA Fellowship.” He plans to use it to “release new material and expand my current catalog [and] I really look forward to working with the Division on any opportunities for presenting my compositions.”

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