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Billy Kilson

Like most young drummers, Billy Kilson began his career in his mother's kitchen with her pots and pans. Billy's love for the drums began to grow as he grew. Pots and pans, twigs and sticks were used to create a beat. Seeing her son's interest in music, Billy's mother enrolled him in trumpet lessons and later he switched to trombone. His yearning for the drums continued and finally, for his sixteenth birthday he received his first drum set. The gift was conditional upon his continuance of good grades. He kept his part of the bargain and graduated with honors while taking advantage of every free moment to pursue his passion for the drums.

Billy went immediately to work to hone the skills he had developed on the pots and pans. He realized he was working against the clock since most professional musicians began taking lessons on their chosen instrument in grade school. By the time they reached high school, they were semi-pro. Billy was just starting out at the old age of 16. "I practiced as much as 14 hours a day. That was it; there were no short cuts. I had to work around studies and other responsibilities. But all through college and the early years after college, I tried to put in those 14 hours on the drums."

Billy learned all different styles of playing. Inspired by funk and R&B, he listened to groups such as Sly and Family Stone, Earth Wind and Fire, and Parliament & Funkadelic and played along with the records. "I listened to everything. Since so much of my early playing was self-taught, I think this was the key to my diverse styles. I was exposed to so many different styles. My father loved music and on Saturdays, his favorite thing to do was to listen to music all day long. He had a massive record collection consisting of artists from Count Basie and Duke Ellington to Junior Walker and James Brown. Since I was exposed to much, I learn to play many styles."

At sixteen, Billy attended the Maryland Gifted and Talented Institute for High School Students. It was here he first heard about Berklee School of Music. At seventeen he went to the Shenandoah Music Camp and heard one of Stanley Clarke's recordings featuring Tony Williams. Then he listened to some of Miles Davis records that also featured Williams. "I felt he was the most innovative drummer I had ever heard. I was mesmerized by his playing," recalls Billy. He was overwhelmed with the sound and kept trying to learn this technique, but felt he didn't have enough hands. "I kept saying, 'How does he do that. It's impossible!" Billy learned that Tony Williams' teacher was Alan Dawson who had taught at Berklee at one time and still taught privately in the area. "My mom was already checking out the college scene. She was trying to find the school that offered the right balance of music and academics." Having learned some things about Berklee, she was in agreement with Billy's enthusiastic assessment of the school.

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16
Album Review

Bob James Trio: Feel Like Making Live!

Read "Feel Like Making Live!" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Bob James--keyboardist, pianist, composer and arranger--opens Feel Like Making Live! with his original tune, “Angela (Theme From 'Taxi')." Everyone has heard it--that is what exposure from a popular television show can do. That series ran from 1978 to 1983. Taxi music, along with his albums on Creed Taylor's CTI Records during this time, in addition to his taking on arranging chores for the label, for the likes of saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. and more, ...

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Interview

Billy Kilson: Nasty Pitch

Read "Billy Kilson: Nasty Pitch" reviewed by Trish Richardson


Here's the wind up. And the pitch. Whoa, did you see that one folks? That pitch was just nasty. In baseball, occasionally a ball gets thrown by the pitcher that is so good, so perfectly placed, so unbelievable, the announcer calls it nasty. The opposing batter doesn't have much chance of hitting it, but can only look back at the mound and tip his hat with respect. Occasionally, the same thing occurs in music. Atop a ...

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Interview

Billy Kilson: Billy's Groove

Read "Billy Kilson: Billy's Groove" reviewed by Katrina-Kasey Wheeler


The Berklee educated, innovative drummer Billy Kilson may have started out playing the trumpet and trombone, but playing the drums was certainly his calling. The virtuoso performer, who has toured with such famed musicians as George Duke, Diane Reeves and has been a part of Chris Botti's band for the past four years, is known as a drummer of the highest caliber; known as such for his revelational improvisation and timing, and an undeniable stage presence reminiscent of the great ...

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Performance / Tour

Steve Wilson Sets "Super Band" Tour for April, with Patrice Rushen, James Genus and Billy Kilson

Steve Wilson Sets "Super Band" Tour for April, with Patrice Rushen, James Genus and Billy Kilson

Source: Seth Cohen PR

Steve Wilson Injects Some Funk with 'Super Band' Tour in April; Four Nights at Jazz Standard in NY are Confirmed, as are Shows in D.C. and VA Wilson Hits His Stride, Builds New Collaborations for 2012 Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Steve Wilson aims to 'get funky' with his Super Band tour, set for April.  The Steve Wilson Super Band features Patrice Rushen on piano and keyboard, James Genus on bass and Billy Kilson on drums. The tour will begin with a ...

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Feel Like Making Live!

Evolution Music Group
2022

buy

Disney Jazz

Walt Disney Records
2009

buy

Pots & Pans

Arintha Star
2006

buy

Moods

Universal Japan
2003

buy

Adventures in Jazz

Walt Disney Records
2001

buy

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