Warren Hill (musician)
Warren Hill | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1966 Toronto, Canada |
| Occupation | Alto saxophonist |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Smooth jazz saxophone performances and chart-topping singles |
Warren Hill (born April 15, 1966) is an alto saxophonist specializing in smooth jazz, originating from Toronto, Canada.
His breakthrough came in 1988 when he was discovered during his final performance at Berklee College of Music. Shortly thereafter, record producer Russ Titelman invited him to contribute to a Chaka Khan project. After moving to Los Angeles, Hill secured a contract with RCA in 1989 and launched his first album, Kiss Under the Moon. He joined Natalie Cole on tour promoting her album Unforgettable and gained wider acclaim with the 1993 track "The Passion Theme" from the movie Body of Evidence.
Within the smooth jazz genre, Hill has achieved multiple chart-topping singles such as "Our First Dance", "Do You Feel What I'm Feeling", "Mambo 2000", "Tamara", "Still in Love", "La Dolce Vita", "Promises", "Take Out Dreams", "Tears in Heaven", "Another Goodbye", "Tell Me All Your Secrets", "You Are the One", and "Turn Out the Lights". Together with his spouse Tamara VanCleef-Hill, he co-created and produced the track "Shelter from the Storm". His collaborations include appearances on Restless Heart's "Tell Me What You Dream" and Big Mountain's rendition of "Baby I Love Your Way". Additionally, Hill has performed on BBC's Top of the Pops.
From a business perspective, Hill established a smooth jazz cruise in 2004 and is the proprietor of the Cancun Jazz Festival. He has also developed a personal line of musical instruments and co-founded Songbird Records.
His album releases began with Devotion (1993) and Truth (1994) under RCA. After transitioning to Discovery, he produced Shelter (1997) and Life Thru Rose Colored Glasses (1998). His work with Narada includes Love Life (2000), Love Songs, and A Warren Hill Christmas (both 2002), followed by PopJazz (2005). In June 2008, Hill signed with Koch and released La Dolce Vita.
Instruments
Hill performs on alto saxophone using the Vandoren Blue Jumbo Java mouthpiece, recognized for its crisp and dry tonal quality. Since Vandoren discontinued this model, its secondhand market value has significantly increased.
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Jazz | US Con. Jazz | Label | ||
| 1991 | Kiss Under the Moon | 11 | RCA | |
| 1993 | Devotion | 8 | 6 | |
| 1994 | Truth | 7 | 6 | |
| 1997 | Shelter | 13 | 8 | Discovery |
| 1998 | Life Thru Rose Colored Glasses | 27 | 18 | |
| 2000 | Love Life | 14 | 10 | Narada |
| 2002 | Love Songs | 16 | ||
| A Warren Hill Christmas | 48 | |||
| 2005 | PopJazz | 28 | 17 | PopJazz |
| 2008 | La Dolce Vita | 46 | Koch | |
| 2012 | Christmas with Warren Hill | SUGO Music Group | ||
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions (US Smooth Jazz) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "La Dolce Vita" | 2 | La Dolce Vita |
| 2009 | "Mojo" | 30 | La Dolce Vita |
| 2012 | "Play It Like You Mean It" |
Guest singles
| Year | Title | Artist | US Smooth Jazz | US Hot 100 | US AC | CAN | CAN AC | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Tell Me What You Dream" | Restless Heart | 43 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 'Greatest Hits' | |
| 2008 | "On the Upside" | Steve Oliver | 25 | 'One Night Live' |