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Kalil Amar Wilson (born 1981) is an American vocalist, pianist, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist. Wilson began singing as a child with the Oakland Youth Chorus, studied at the UC Berkeley Young Musicians Program, and graduated magna cum laude from the UCLA Music and Ethnomusicology Departments, being named "Distinguished Ethnomusicology Student" of his graduating class.[1] There, renowned jazz guitarist and UCLA music professor Kenny Burrell wrote of Wilson, "A very special young talent with a unique sound that crosses through genres."[2]

Kalil Wilson
Kalil Wilson at Victor Radzievski Jazz Festival in Moscow, 2018
Background information
Birth name	Kalil Amar Wilson
Born	1981 (age 40–41)
Origin	Oakland, California
Genres	Jazz soul classical R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician singer voice teacher
Instrument(s)	voice percussion piano
Years active	1995–present
Website	www.KalilWilson.com

Career

Classical

Wilson has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,[3] Los Angeles Opera,[4] the Oakland East Bay Symphony, at Walt Disney Concert Hall,[5] the Getty Museum, the Hollywood Bowl, the Aspen Music Festival, the Mendocino Music Festival, and UCLA Live at Royce Hall, among others. Wilson was named winner of the top prize at the Western Regional Auditions of the Metropolitan Opera National Council and competed on the Met stage in New York,[1][6] For two years he held a fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where performing the title role in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring. The Aspen Times reported, "Wilson brought a silken tenor sound and an engaging and often funny stage presence."[7] Wilson has appeared numerous times with the Oakland East Bay Symphony. After hearing Wilson perform in a master class at Aspen, Renée Fleming said, "Kalil makes me cry."[8]

In 2012, Wilson was invited to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in a collaboration with Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Wayne Shorter, Cindy Blackman, Zakir Hussain, Dave Holland, George Whitty, and Carlos Santana for an all-star concert, "Celebrating Peace."[9]

Jazz, Soul, R&B

Wilson's journey into popular music is rooted in Kalil's family history, with father Nigerian bassist and bandleader Babá Ken Okulolo, and as a youth, frequently performing with Okulolo's diverse ensembles.

In 2006, Wilson was urged by vocal coach Seth Riggs to explore jazz, R&B, and other contemporary vocal genres. That year, Wilson was selected as a finalist in the first annual Jose Iturbi International Vocal Competition.

Wilson soon began headlining at various West Coast jazz venues and festivals, including the Jazz Bakery,[10] the Central Avenue Jazz Festival,[11] the UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival,[12] and Yoshi's.[13] In July 2009, Wilson performed onstage with mentor, Kenny Burrell, at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles.

In 2009 Wilson released a full-length debut recording, Easy to Love, an album devoted to the American Songbook.

In 2010, Kalil's debuted at La Sala Apolo, in Barcelona with the Barcelona Jazz Orchestra. That same year, Wilson was selected to appear in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocalist Competition in Washington DC.

In 2017 Kalil began a series of performances the burgeoning jazz community in Russia. Wilson completed two tours of Russia in 2018 and 2019, headlining in such locations as St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tuva, Abakan, and Murmansk.[14]

Latin

Wilson performed with guitarist Carlos Santana on his Grammy award-winning composition Novus, at the Oakland East Bay Symphony's November 2010 season opening concert.[15] and at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2011 Wilson shared a duet vocal performance with Omara Portuondo and the Buena Vista Social Club at the L'Auditori in Barcelona.

Personal

Wilson is honored to be a member of the LGBTQ community, and has represented in the Oakland Pride Parade along side Maestro Michael Morgan. Kalil is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church and in 2022 was ordained as a tonsured reader in San Francisco by his eminence archbiship Kirill. Kalil is vehement advocate for abolition of capital punishiment in the United States by constitutional amendment.

Discography

Albums

• 2018 – Kalil Wilson "Time Stops" (Six Degrees Records)
• 2009 – Kalil Wilson and the Berkeley Everett Trio Easy to Love (Independent)

Production

• 2009 – Kalil Wilson and the Berkeley Everett Trio "Easy to Love" (Independent)
• 2012 – Babá Ken Okulolo "African Drum Songs" (Inner Spirit Recordings)

References

External links

• Kalil Wilson Official Site

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