Alexandria’s Jack Kilby Wins Wammie Award for Best Jazz Album
Kilby received the award for "Love Is A Song Anyone Can Sing" at the Lincoln Theatre on March 31.
Congratulations to Del Ray’s Jack Kilby, whose “Love Is A Song Anyone Can Sing” was recently awarded the 2019 Wammie Award for Best Jazz Album! The album was a labor of love for the 29-year-old Kilby, who wrote the arrangements during a difficult period.
“It means a lot to have my hard work recognized,” Kilby said. “Especially as a new artist. You’re shouting in the abyss and hoping for someone to hear you.”
Kilby received the award at the Lincoln Theatre on March 31.
The six-piece Jack Kilby and the Front Line was formed in 2014 in New York City, is made up of members from New York, Washington DC, and Virginia. Kilby, a drummer, trumpeter, band leader and arranger is an Alexandria native and participated in band programs at George Mason Elementary School, George Washington Middle School, T.C. Williams High School and at the University of Virginia. Kilby also runs Crab Shack Music, a recording studio from his Del Ray home.
“I was dealing with a lot while I was arranging the album, from a breakup to family issues and wrestling with the concept of being a full-time musician,” Kilby said. “Music has always been there for me, and being a young and new artist and making it work and piecing it all together is tough.”
The hard bop album was recorded at Bias Studios in Springfield and was on the North American College & Community Radio chart for six weeks and peaked at number two overall, and was in the JazzWeek for eight weeks and peaked at number 27. Its companion album was released earlier this year.
Jack Kilby and the Front Line will perform the following events this month:
- April 30: Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation 3rd Annual DC Jazz Leaders Gala at The Yard, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C., at 7 p.m.
- April 29: Marvin, Washington, D.C., at 7 p.m.
- April 28: Brooks Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, at 7 p.m.
- April 13: Unforgettable – The Music of Nat King Cole, Blackrock Center, Germantown, MD, at 8 p.m.
- April 12: Miller’s, Charlottesville, VA, 10pm – 1am
- April 9-11: Unforgettable – The Music of Nat King Cole, Signature Theatre, Arlington, VA, at 7:30 p.m.
- April 6: Mr. Henry’s, Washington, DC, from 8 p.m. to 11 p..m.
