Billy Kilson
William Earl Kilson is an American jazz drummer.
Kilson was born in Washington, D.C.. He started on trumpet at ten, switched to trombone at 11, then to drums at 16. He studied at the Berklee College of Music from 1980 to 1985 and took private lessons from Alan Dawson during 1982–89. Following this he did a tour of Europe with Walter Davis.
He has played with Ahmad Jamal, Dianne Reeves, Greg Osby, George Duke, Steps Ahead, Tim Hagans, Terumasa Hino, Bob James, Dave Holland, Bob Belden and Kevin Mahogany. Other associations include Kirk Whalum, Freddie Jackson, Chris Botti, Donald Brown, Bob James, and Paula Cole.
Kilson is perhaps best known for his work with Holland. He plays on Holland's Grammy Award-nominated 1999 album Prime Directive and his Grammy-winning 2002 release What Goes Around.
Kilson has also led his own quartet ensemble along with James Genus and Tim Hagans. His debut release as a leader, Pots and Pans, appeared in 2006.Discography
- Pots & Pans
- Descension Rising
As sideman
With Bob Belden
- Princejazz
- Purple Rain
- When Doves Cry
- Tapestry
- Black Dahlia
With Chris Botti
With Carla Cook
With Michael Franks
With Tim Hagans
- Audible Architecture
- Animation Imagination
- Re-Animation Live!
With Dave Holland
- Points of View
- Prime Directive
- Not for Nothin ECM, 2001)
- What Goes Around
- '
- Overtime
With Bob James
- Joy Ride
- Take It from the Top
- Urban Flamingo
- Espresso
- Joined at the Hip
With Dianne Reeves
With others
- Johnny Adams, The Verdict
- Philip Bailey, Soul On Jazz
- Walter Beasley, Walter Beasley
- Terence Blanchard, Simply Stated
- Donald Brown, At This Point in My Life
- Tom Browne, R'N'Browne
- Larry Carlton, Deep Into It
- Larry Carlton, Sapphire Blue
- Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto, "Take Your Pick" *Grammy Winner
- Billy Childs, Portrait of a Player
- Paula Cole, Courage
- Continuum, Act One
- Taylor Eigsti, Lucky to Be Me
- Robin Eubanks, Klassik Rock Vol. 1
- Bill Evans, Escape
- Michael Gibbs, Nonsequence
- Great Jazz Trio, Blue Minor
- Antonio Hart, All We Need
- Terumasa Hino-Masabumi Kikuchi Quintet, Acoustic Boogie
- Terumasa Hino-Masabumi Kikuchi Quintet, Moment
- Joe Locke, State of Soul
- Kevin Mahogany, My Romance
- Andy McKee, Sound Roots
- Bill Mobley, Mean What You Say
- Maria Muldaur, Jazzabelle
- Austin Peralta, Maiden Voyage
- Lonnie Plaxico, Rhythm & Soul
- Josh Roseman, Treats for the Nightwalker
- Spyro Gyra, The Deep End
- John Stoddart, Wings to Walk This Road
- Steve Wilson, Soulful Song
- Yo-Yo Ma, Songs of Joy & Peace''