No Limits

Four-time JUNO-award winning record producer and bassist/composer Rick Kilburn opens the door to his tranquil Qualicum, BC home, where he and his wife live with his 91-year-old father, Jim Kilburn. Offering coffee and a comfortable welcome, the multi-award-winning musician confesses he had the notion he would retire at 65 to spend more time with his music and hobbies on Vancouver Island, but the busy 68-year-old jazz bassist and recording engineer/producer is as active now as ever before.

Last winter, Rick toured Vancouver Island, receiving standing ovations for his “Christmas With Sinatra” Frank Sinatra concert arrangements for vocalist Dane Warren and small jazz group. He spent about 150 hours writing 26 arrangements for the performance.

“It took 20 days and because it was Sinatra, I had to honour those Nelson Riddle arrangements. So, I basically did a reduction of the big band arrangements for small jazz group.”

Leading an enviably colourful, creative lifestyle, Rick lives five days a month in Vancouver and also performs at the Fairview Pub and Sylvia Hotel regularly with the Weaver-Worth band. Performing weekly at Vancouver Island’s The Old School House Art Centre in duo with Ron Hadley, the two musicians explore classic jazz standards in an art gallery jazz club setting.

Rick grew up in a musical family. Jim Kilburn was a jazz guitarist and president of The Cellar Jazz Society, the governing body of Vancouver’s original Cellar jazz club. Often falling asleep on someone’s lap as his father played, Rick, as a small child, was influenced by the celebrities that came by his family’s home.

Kilburn recalls “jamming” on a one-string violin, along with Wes Montgomery and his father. “All of a sudden I was the only one playing, and Wes and Dad were looking around the corner chuckling.”

At age 19, Rick was a member of the rock group Chilliwack. Inspired by jazz pianist Bill Evans and bassists Scott LaFaro, Ron Carter, Dave Young and Paul Chambers, he moved to Edmonton to study with jazz bassist Dave Young, leaving for Boston’s Berklee College of Music to further his studies. Highlights in Boston and New York City at age 23 included performing as a bassist with jazz stars Chet Baker, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim w/John Scofield, Kenny Werner and Jamie Haddad and Claudio Roditi.

Rick’s New York City years were spent performing with other US musicians like Darius Brubeck, Dan Brubeck, Dave Brubeck, Mose Allison, Red Rodney and Sam Rivers, among others. In his New York City loft, he held jam sessions with jazz saxophonist Jerry Borgonzi, and well-known jazz artists Mike Brecker and Steve Grossman would drop by to join the jam.

“The heaviest of the heavy guys would come to my place to play,” says Rick. “Borgonzi would be there every time and we even had a rehearsal there with Gerry Mulligan. It was an amazing period being able to hang out with those guys. I was scared practically the whole time… intimidated by those players but, boy, they kicked me in the butt. It was good for me, and I think by the end of that I was playing pretty well.”

Over his career, Rick has owned several successful recording studios. He worked as an instructor at Vancouver Island University and Vancouver Community College. He helped set up a recording and engineering component of the jazz performance workshop at The Banff Centre; has composed for movie, video and television soundtracks; and has even operated an island jingle company.

He has spent over 55 years as a bassist, where 12-hour practice sessions were common, alongside working at his other passion as a producer, editing, mixing and engineering. The producer currently operates a mobile recording studio business producing exquisitely recorded jazz albums for top jazz artists.

Rick claims playing the bass is his first love, but writing is a huge part of his fascination, too.

“I really like the solitude of getting into composition: it’s like a meditation; you get into a really nice space,” he says. “Sometimes it takes a while, a couple of hours, like practicing… I really like the idea of being musically free. I am enjoying the recording, too.”

“I want to keep doing what I do. I want to keep projects at a very high level. These days, my favourite thing is to record a band live. I’m recording a lot at Studio Live in Cumberland. I love the sound there. Mainly though, I really would like to become a better bass player – and a better cook,” he says with a smile. “Music is an individual spiritual pursuit. That’s what it is.”

Having won two West Coast Music Awards and an East Coast Music Award, what he’d like to do next as a producer is win a Grammy.

“I want to work on a project that wins a Grammy – that’s what I want. I had one project that got short-listed for a Grammy, but that’s the closest I have made it.”

Performing as a bassist and producing jazz albums for elite BC artists – while looking after his 91-year-old father – keeps the dynamic musician on a full, creative and work-at-home schedule.

“My life has been a balance; kind of a teeter-totter trying to keep the balance between the monk and the pirate,” says Rick. “The jazz monk, you know – solitude, practicing, being internal – and then the pirate shows up. The pirate is that person who has no limits – so the internal world and the external world – it’s a balance between the two.”

Rick’s wife, Mihoko, is a fabulous cook, and the couple enjoys fine food.
“I am not allowed in the kitchen because I am too big. I get in the way and the kitchen is small,” he says. “We like travelling, food and movies; they are the things we like to do together.”

“I want to take a river cruise from Moscow to Saint Petersburg. I have been there about 30 times. I love Russia. The people are great! The architecture, the history; Russia is just an amazing place.”

“Mihoko is a ballroom dancer and I dance with her after I have had a few scotches, as I have to get brave to do it,” he laughs. “My stepson, Taku, has three children: Ashitaka, who is 10 and the twins, Kento and Tyson, who are five years old. My stepdaughter, Erika, and I enjoy occasional motorcycle rides together. Ashitaka is playing the ukulele and one of the twins is now starting to beat on drums. So, I am wondering if there is going to be a family band somewhere along the line. I think for sure there is going to be a family jam session at some point.

On health and lifestyle, Rick claims to follow no discipline. “I mean really no discipline, although I am counting calories. I started logging my food and calories and have lost some weight – 20 pounds since then,” he says demonstrating the phone app.

The bassist wants to focus on hobbies like golf, cooking, reading, photography, boating and fly fishing in addition to producing and playing the bass in his golden years.

“I like to dream about having a hot rod muscle car, but I am just dreaming about it. I love muscle cars. Perhaps I will be the only 80-year-old driving around in a ’40 Ford sedan with a blower on it,” he laughs.

Rick is currently considering a recording project of his own with musician colleagues from his past and present. “I want to put together my own CD, which I am still just thinking about, and planning, and wondering who I will have on it.”

For maximizing joy in life after 65, Rick says, “I’ll do my don’ts first: Don’t sit on the couch; don’t watch too much TV. Sports is okay,” he laughs. Do listen to music, if you can. I think music can be very helpful. Stay physically active in whatever way you possibly can. Keep your mind active. If you play a musical instrument, keep playing. Music is an activity that involves both sides of the brain, so keep it up, it’s good for you. Try to keep a positive attitude. Exercise is part of that. Stay interested and keep communicating with people.”

Rick’s advice for young and emerging musicians: “Get into the spiritual aspect of music and self-discovery and, eventually, you may be fortunate to have one of the gigs. It doesn’t matter where in the world that is because people will find out about you, you just have to shine. I have been fortunate in this lifetime. Having chased my dreams in music and been allowed to basically do what I wish. Yes, there have been many detours and forks in the road, but some not-so-desirable forks along the way had some very fortunate turns. If I were to try to describe my life and career, I could say, “Not bad for a young guy!”

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