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

As solo

  • While Ur Sleepin' - as BK Groove Featuring Billy Kilson
  • Pots & Pans - as Billy Kilson's B.K. Groove
  • Descension Rising - as Billy Kilson Trio

    As sideman

With Greg Osby
  • Man-Talk for Moderns Vol. X
With Dianne Reeves
  • I Remember - on tracks
  • Art & Survival - on tracks
  • Quiet After the Storm - on tracks
With Bob Belden
  • Princejazz
  • Purple Rain
  • When Doves Cry
  • Tapestry
  • Black Dahlia
With Tim Hagans
  • Audible Architecture
  • Animation Imagination
  • Re-Animation Live!
With Jack Lee
With Bob James
  • Joined at the Hip
  • Joy Ride - on "Joy Ride" and "Trade Winds"
  • Take It from the Top
  • Urban Flamingo - on "Niles A Head"
  • Espresso
  • Feel Like Making LIVE!
With Dave Holland
  • Points of View
  • Prime Directive
  • Not for Nothin ECM, 2001)
  • What Goes Around
  • Extended Play: Live at Birdland
  • Overtime
With Carla Cook
With Bill Mobley
  • Mean What You Say - on tracks
  • Black Elk's Dream - a live album with Orchestre d'Auvergne
With Larry Carlton
  • Deep Into It
  • Sapphire Blue
  • Take Your Pick - with Tak Matsumoto *Grammy Winner
With Donald Brown
  • At This Point in My Life - with The Bush Messengers
  • Autumn in New York - as Donald Brown Trio
  • French Kiss
With Robin Eubanks
  • Get 2 It - on tracks - with Mental Images
  • Klassik Rock Vol. 1 - on tracks - with Mental Images
With Charene Dawn
  • Dark Angel
With Michael Franks
  • Watching the Snow
  • Time Together
  • The Music in My Head
With Chris Botti
With Will Boulware
  • Take Five
  • Summertime
With others'