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Keith Killgo

Keith Killgo, drummer, vocalist and one of the founding members of the jazz-fusion group, the Blackbyrds, has been a part of the metamorphosis that has taken place in the world of jazz. From the age of four years old, he studied piano--going on to train with Roberta Flack. Although the piano was his first instrument, his affinity for the drums was exhibited early in his music career. By the time, he was eleven he had played drums with Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Woody Shaw, Bill Hardman, Art Blakey’s band and Eddie Harris.

Killgo entered Bradley University in Illinois where he became a part of the Joe Henderson Quintet, along with Stanley Clark, Hal Galper and Woody Shaw. After playing and touring with Joe Henderson, he attended Howard University, where he met Donald Byrd and was selected to become a member of the Blackbyrds with Orville Saunders and Joe Hall. For the next ten years, the Blackbyrds played with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Humphrey, Sonny Rollins and Andrew White. They received an array of awards including three gold albums and a Grammy nomination for “Walking in Rhythm.” Killgo wrote several hit singles for the Blackbyrds including, “Flying High,” and “Time is Moving.”

After the affiliation with Donald Byrd ended in 1977, Killgo and the Blackbyrds collaborated with George Duke on Better Days. Killgo wrote both the title song and “Love Don’t Strike Twice.” He later went on to form Krosswinds, a seven-person band, as well as recoding a solo LP consisting of three original compositions and a new version of Tommy James’ hit single, “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” Killgo has performed and/or recorded with his own band and artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gary Bartz, Milt Jackson, Carla Thomas, Gerald Albright, Carl Anderson, Roland Hanna, David “Fathead” Newman, Stanley Turrentine, Joey DeFranscesco, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, James Moody, Patrice Rushen and others.

One of Keith’s projects is “StarJamz,” a music performance entertainment television special aired on TV One. The show brings together two stars from different generations to talk, perform individually, together and jam live with Keith Killgo’s StarJamz House Band. The first special features NAACP Image Award winner and American Idol 2003 champion Ruben Studdard and multiple Grammy Award-winning soul vocalist Peabo Bryson.

Keith is currently promoting his latest release, 'Mood for Love' on his Krosslink label. Featuring Donald Byrd, Larry Coryell, the late Oscar Brown, Jr and Joe Henderson, Keith Killgo returns to his roots on his sophomore solo effort with a combination of live and studio cuts.

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Album Review

Donald Byrd: Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux

Read "Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux" reviewed by Stefano Merighi


Nelle note di copertina, Don Was, presidente della Blue Note, celebra questa pubblicazione inedita del concerto di Montreux di Donald Byrd del 1973 con toni di grande rispetto ed entusiasmo. E il trombettista (scomparso nel 2013) se lo merita, sia per un certo distacco critico che ne ha sempre contraddistinto l'opera, sia per il ruolo di scouter ed educatore che Byrd ha giocato in quegli anni, quando molti jazzmen hanno preferito trasformare un linguaggio ancora legato ai fasti dell'hard bop ...

9
Album Review

Donald Byrd: Donald Byrd Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux

Read "Donald Byrd Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux" reviewed by Peter Jones


What a treat it must have been in 1973 to attend the Montreux Jazz Festival: the featured artists that year included Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Chico Hamilton, Sam Rivers, Bobbi Humphrey, Dr John, Marlena Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson... and Donald Byrd with his Tentet, whose July 5 performance is captured on this album. It was also the year of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters (Columbia Records) album, not to mention several Blaxploitation movie soundtracks, including J.J. Johnson's for Cleopatra Jones and ...

5
Album Review

Donald Byrd: Donald Byrd Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux

Read "Donald Byrd Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


With the release of his chart-topping, funk-fueled Black Byrd in 1973, Donald Byrd found himself in a volatile place in jazz circles. He was being hailed as having finally stepped out of Miles Davis' considerable shadow, while simultaneously many found the album to be Byrd's selling out his bop legacy for chart success. As most defining artistic moments reveal, a little of both were true. Produced and arranged by the brothers Fonce Mizelland Larry Mizell, Black Byrd incorporated ...

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Performance / Tour

Keith Killgo Named Music Director of "A Pryor Experience"

Keith Killgo Named Music Director of "A Pryor Experience"

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Rain Pryor Launches New Jazz Cabaret WASHINGTON, DC -- Keith Killgo, veteran Blackbyrds drummer and vocalist is themusic director for 'A Pryor Experience', a new jazz cabaret performed by the award-winning actress, Rain Pryor. The bi-racial daughter of the late and legendary comic icon Richard Pryor and a militant Jewish woman, Rain produced and starred in her one- woman show,'Fried Chicken and Latkes'. She has selected Keith Killgo Jazz,Keith's ensemble, as her band for her cabaret.Ms. Pryor will bring her ...

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Performance / Tour

Keith Killgo Jazz Pioneer Performs at SXSW 2007, Saturday, March 17 at the Elephant Room

Keith Killgo Jazz Pioneer Performs at SXSW 2007, Saturday, March 17 at the Elephant Room

Source: Hard Pressed Publicity

Venue: The Elephant Room Time: 10:30pm Date: SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2007 “This is to confirm my high and enthusiastic regard for the drumming exploits of Mr. Keith Killgo, who is one of the most exciting, intelligent and dynamic swing-miesters in our profession. Any venue or concert in which he plays will be better for it." --Larry Coryell Austin, TX - Ralph Ellison said, “Jazz is an art of individual assertion within and against the group..." and ...

102

Performance / Tour

Strathmore Presents Keith Killgo / Renowned jazz percussionist performs as part of Strathmore's Artist in Residence Program

Strathmore Presents Keith Killgo / Renowned jazz percussionist performs as part of Strathmore's Artist in Residence Program

Source: All About Jazz

N. Bethesda, MD: Jazz percussionist and Washington D.C. native Keith Killgo will perform at Strathmore during the month of April as part of Strathmore's Artist in Residence program. His public performances on Wednesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 26 will take place in the intimate 100-seat Music Room in the Mansion at Strathmore at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. The performance on April 5 will feature the standards, including arrangements from the JFK Quintet, and original music from Keith's latest ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Live: Cookin' With...

Blue Note Records
2022

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This World

Krosslink Records
2006

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