Lawrence Dewalt Killian

In memory of Lawrence Killian, he leaves behind his wife Sylvia Killian of 21 years, also his sister Tonya Coleman and other sisters and brothers, children and grandchildren.

Killian

by Robert Paul Silverman

Lawrence Killian's

drums talk, harkening

back to the days in

Africa when the drum

was played as a form of

communication, giving

lightning power to

communal dances.

Born September 5th, 1942 in Jersey City, Killian's

uncle Al played trumpet with the legendary Ellington

orchestra during one of its finest periods and his

father Rollie was a postman who sang and played

guitar with Sy Oliver. Although encouraging his

musicality, Rollie made sure that his son developed a

trade to fall back on, so Killian would later study to be

an electrician. Starting on a silver trumpet at the

Glenfield School in New Jersey, he played in the band

and also the drum and bugle corps. Attracted to the

snare drum, he joined the Blue and Gold Marching

Band. Killian then started playing the trap drums with

saxophonist Lloyd Wheeler and Jimmy Anderson. He

played in all the local bars, though he eventually

joined the Coast Guard as an electrician.

Killian's first major gig was with vibraphonist

Johnny Lytle, during which he would become friends

with Roy Haynes and Freddie Hubbard, both of with

whom he would later play. Killian was percussionist

of the original Roy Haynes Hip Ensemble with saxist

George Adams, trumpeter Hannibal Marvin Peterson,

pianist Joe Bonner and bassist Cecil McBee - all except

Adams destined to play with Pharoah Sanders, one of

Killian's greatest jazz associations.

It was at the Blue Cornet that McBee invited

Sanders to first hear Killian. He would go on to record

with Sanders on the seminal albums Thembi (on one

track never properly credited in discographies) and

Black Unity. It was during this time, while playing free

music, that Killian furthered his relationship with the

drum as an ancient talking spirit.

An outgrowth of Sanders' band in the ‘70s was

Lonnie Liston Smith's Cosmic Echoes whose spare

electronic piano style brought in a new era of light,

cosmic funk. This experience included trips to Japan

and more recordings in nearly half a dozen years.

At this time, he also played with two of the most

famous men in jazz: Stan Getz and Miles Davis. When

Killian was still playing with Sanders, Miles eased into

a club undercover (similar to Pharoah), but finally

made it known that he wanted Killian to play in the

wild fusion band that also had percussionist Mtume,

Michael Henderson (bass), Keith Jarrett (piano), Tiki

(drums) and Gary Bartz (alto sax). Killian played at the

sessions for the exploratory funk album On the Corner

(though those particular takes have never been

released) and did gigs with Miles at the Village Gate,

Lennie's on the Turnpike and at the Jazz Workshop.

After playing with Rahsaan Roland Kirk and

pianists Hilton Ruiz and Ahmad Jamal, Killian crossed

genres and joined the rock-disco band The Village

People which led to a five year stint, some good

money and hits like the song, "YMCA".

His friendship with Johnny Lytle led to a positive

connection when Pucho (of Latin Soul Brothers fame)

was putting together a tour. He asked Killian to play

congas in this working Latin band. Killian gladly

accepted and played extensively with Pucho in the

‘90s, leading to the CD Groovin' High.

It was at this time, that Killian and I formed our

first band and what is now a 17-year friendship. I had

a steady gig and percussionist Leopold Fleming was

called away to play with Nina Simone. When he said

he would send a sub, I had no idea that this wonderful

man with powerful forearms and razor sharp time

would end up playing for the entire summer.

After over 20 years as a fireman, Killian is still

teaching and playing at William Patterson College

with Chico Mendoza. He meets a lot of young kids that

want to be quick stars these days, but his advice to

them, knowing that jazz is a complex art form is to:

"Listen! Listen! and practice!"...Amen. K

Killian is at Saint Peter's with Robert Silverman Apr. 29th.

See calendar.

Recommended Listening:

• Larry Coryell - Barefoot Boy

(Flying Dutchman-One Way, 1971)

• Pharoah Sanders - Live at the East (Impulse, 1971)

• Roy Haynes - Senyah (Mainstream, 1972)

• Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes -

Cosmic Funk (Flying Dutchman, 1974)

• Cecil McBee - Mutima (Strata East, 1974)

• Big John Patton/John Zorn -

Blue Planet Man (Evidence, 1993)

Service Details.

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