Like most young drummers, Billy Kilson began his career in his mother’s kitchen with her pots and pans. However, he did not receive his first drum set until he was sixteen. Realizing he was working against the clock since most professional musicians began taking lessons on their chosen instrument in grade school, he immediately to work to develop his drumming skills and practiced as much as 14 hours a day.
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, Parliament & Funkadelic, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Billy Cobham and played along with the records. At seventeen, Billy first heard Tony Williams on one of Miles Davis’ recordings. "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.
After high school, Billy enrolled at Berklee and absorbed everything Alan Dawson taught. Alan became his teacher, mentor and even a father figure. Finally, Alan announced that he had taught him everything he could and it was time to go out in the world and perform. Alan told Billy that Walter Davis Jr. was planning a European tour and looking for a drummer. Upon Dawson's recommendation, Billy was invited to audition where he landed the gig.
After the tour with Davis, word spread and the calls began to come. Donald Byrd, Ahmad Jamal and Dianne Reeves were some of the first artists who hired Billy for their tours. From this exposure, Billy caught the attention of George Duke, Najee, Freddie Jackson, Bob James and the calls kept coming. Eventually Dave Holland invited Billy to join his quintet. As the drummer for the Dave Holland Quintet, he brought an element of funk to the band, creating a new sound for them and catapulting them into a premiere group in jazz. Critics frequently lauded his performances, particularly his expertise with odd meters. Billy then joined Chris Botti’s band who had just landed an opening spot for Stings tour exposing Billy’s talents to a more diverse audience. Chris always allowed Billy the opportunity to stretch musically and he brought his element of funk and odd meters to Chris band.
Although he has achieved notable success as a sideman in concert and on recordings, Billy’s first love is creating and performing his own music. Influenced by the funk and fusion music of his youth, Billy began to write his own music and plan his first recording, While Ur Sleepin’. Later he assembled some of his peers, Kenny Davis, Mike Sim and George Colligan to form Billy Kilson’s BK Groove. They came together as seasoned musicians, reading each other like a favorite book, anticipating the next move perfectly, stepping out to solo at the perfect moment and keeping the groove going at all times.
They began performing and developing a new energy of their own which led them back to the studio to record. Like Billy, they all had diverse backgrounds and the project became a summation of their collective musical experiences. Their latest album, Pots & Pans is a jazz/funk/fusion project with a special nod to drummers.
Billy continues to perform with Chris Botti as well as with his own band, Billy Kilsons BK Groove.
Thanks so much for the Add–and your friendship. We enjoyed your music very much. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. It's a pleasure having you among our friends!
We've just added two new blogs about Umano, plus four more new compositions, making ten on our space. We hope you and your friends visit us and enjoy our music, too.
We wake up every morning and play the music of the new MySpace friends who have arrived at our site during the night. It occurred to us that these friends (you are among them) are almost universally positive, whether they be novices or legends, and without regard to their station in life or the country they occupy.
Although it's not an original thought, it also occurred to us that we couldn’t hold a verbal conversation with most of these friends, but we have bridged that gap by expressing our art honestly with each other.
We all have been filling the world with our music and art, in the hope that our messages of love and human understanding will have an impact on the world at large.
What a gift and what an opportunity we have received from this technology!
Hi Billy! So missed you last night in Nashville with the Botti, but totally understand your absence--congratulations! Best wishes to you and your family, Jane
Thanks so much for the add. I was so amazed at the show in Atlanta. I have never seen anything like it. Looking forward to seeing you perform again. You are awesome!
Billy! Thanks for the add. I'm such a huge fan of your work...had a blast seeing you wail during the Josh Groban tour, hope to see you perform somewhere again soon!
Billy! Thanx SO much for the great show at 12th & Porter tonight! So cool to watch you and your band interact between takes, and I know the vid will be amazing. Thanx to Tuniverse, and thank you, Paula, for inviting us. Loved being there and meeting you again--and of course, the music was fabulous. See you in June with the Botti. Jane
