"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Dwight Kilian, Bass

Dwight Kilian of Phoenix, Arizona, is an extraordinary bassist and the Executive Director of Music Serving the Word ministries, located in Carefree, Arizona.

Dwight grew up in Kansas, the "heartland" of America. He started his musical journey by playing guitar, which led to tuba and finally to electric and acoustic bass.

He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University in 1986. From 1982 to 1988, Kilian was a "Kansas Jazz Artist in Residence" and a member of the "Kansas Touring Arts". He also taught jazz bass at WSU, Bethel College, and Hutchinson Community College. In 1988, he moved to Denver, freelancing with local and national artists.

Dwight has performed with many top jazz artists such as Sheila Jordan, Art Lande, Herbie Mann, Teddy Edwards, Mark Murphy, Ernie Watts, Richie Cole, Mose Allison, Myra Melford, Jerry Hahn, Milcho Leviev, Claudio Slon, Paul McCandless, Nick Brignola, Lee Konitz, Ken Peplowski, Bob Florence, Lennie Niehaus, and Marvin Stamm.

He has also performed at many of the major jazz festivals in the Midwest and also at the Holland Blues Festival. Kilian relocated to Phoenix in November of 1998, as bassist with the Discovery Jazz Trio at The Boulders Resort in Carefree, AZ for six years.

Currently freeelancing throughout the Valley performing with some of the area's top jazz musicians, his festival performances while living in Arizona include: 1999 Wichita Jazz Festival, Carefree Music Festival from 2003 to 2007, and the Prescott Jazz Summit from 2003 to 2006. While in the valley he's taught Jazz Bass at Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, and Arizona State University from 1999 to 2006.

In 2005, Kilian became Executive Director of Music Serving the Word Ministries and the bassist for The Inner Journeys Trio led by pianist Bob Ravenscroft. He also co-leads a concert series in Glendale at New Hope Covenant Church called Jazz For The Soul, held the second Sunday of each month.

Dwight was with us for the October Inner Journeys Trio concert, he rejoined us for both the Vicki McDermitt Concert on November 21st and the Christmas Eve Jazz Mass, also, both in 2009

Click for CD/MP3