Art Lillard
Composer, arranger, bandleader, lyricist, and drummer Art Lillard grew up in Miami, where his jazz roots include playing with the great master Ira Sullivan and studying with pianist/composer Wally Cirillo. Art also studied at Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York, where his instructors included Anthony Braxton, Don Cherry, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Stu Martin, and John Surman. Subsequently, he graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in composition and arranging, having garnered multiple scholarships and honors along the way. Art has also studied with Dean Anderson, Steve Bagby, Tom Boras, Paul Caputo, Andrew Cyrille, Mike Gibbs, Mike Holober, Greg Hopkins, Joe Hunt, Jim McNeely, Portinho, Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, and Eliot Zigmund.
Art’s nine-horn Heavenly Big Band has been playing in clubs and concert spaces since 1987. Their compact disc, “Reasons to be Thankful,” was released on the Summit Records label in 2006, and their “Certain Relationships” in 2015. Art’s On Time Band, a trio/quartet that has been performing for many years, produced a recording, “It’s Time,” released by Summit in 2009. In 1998, Art's seven-piece swing band, Blue Heaven, appeared on television playing original compositions on two episodes of CBS's daytime series, Guiding Light.”
A professional musician since 1970, Art has had a rich performing career. He has led and co-led many jazz ensembles. He has also played drums as a sideman in groups of various musical genres, including jazz, country & western, cabaret, rock, and show music. He has recorded with some of these groups. Along the way, he has played with such jazz luminaries as Ben Brown, Jaki Byard, Gilly Coggins, Junior Cook, Kenny Davern, Buddy DeFranco, Joe Diorio, Bobby Forrester, Eric Gunnison, Greg Hopkins, Paul Horn, Nancy King, Cecil McBee, Arturo O’Farrill, the aforementioned Ira Sullivan, and many more.
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Live Review
- Art Lillard's Heavenly Big Band at the New York City Baha’i Center
- Art Lillard's On Time Trio at Sugarcane, Brooklyn
Album Review
- Certain Relationships by Jack Bowers
- Reasons to Be Thankful by Jack Bowers
- Reasons To Be Thankful by Michael P. Gladstone
- Reasons to be Thankful by Jim Santella
July 09, 2010
Art Lillard's Heavenly Big Band at Iridium on August 10
May 04, 2006
Art Lillard Upcoming Appearances
April 08, 2006
Art Lillard April Performances
March 22, 2006
Art Lillard March and April Performances
March 15, 2006
Art Lillard Upcoming Performances
February 01, 2006
Art Lillard's Heavenly Band March 4th at The Center for Performing Arts...
February 13, 2006
The Art Lillard Quartet Tuesday, February 14 at the Ear Inn
February 01, 2006
Art Lillard Upcoming Appearances and New Summit CD: Reasons to be...
A solid ensemble with soloists who can ideate with the best - John Gilbert, EjazzNews
File this one under: Swingin' NYC Big Band! - Michael P. Gladstone, AllAboutJazz
Lillard’s variable-pitch drum solo on “Bluez Organ Man,” and the song’s incredible fusion of Caribbean percussion with big band, is one of the session’s high points. - Jim Santella, AllAboutJazz
Reasons to be Thankful is a recording of fresh original material with wonderful orchestration and a unique way of blending the swing fad and the modern big band sound in one setting
Primary Instrument
Drums
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2001-present and 1986-94 Maggio Music, Brooklyn, NY. Teach drums, flute, piano. 2001- 2003 New York City Public Schools. Substitute teacher (music). Spring 2001 Public School 226, Brooklyn, NY. Taught music theory, flute-recorder, and instrumental music to middle school classes. 1997 Bromley Studio, Brooklyn, NY. Taught various instruments. 1996 Music faculty, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
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