September 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Halcyon, bassist Christian Dillingham’s second album

 on Greenleaf Music, to be released October 11, 2024

Featuring six original works by Dillingham,

plus works by Gillian Welch, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and Bob Dylan

September 6, 2024 - Following Cascades, his celebrated debut album for New York-based record label Greenleaf Music, “one of the standout Jazz albums of 2023” (The San Diego Union-Tribune), acclaimed musician Christian Dillingham, joined by guitarist Matt Gold, pianist Julius Tucker, drummer Quin Kirchner, and vocalist Jodee Lewis, returns to the recording field with a dynamic, emotional journey of an album of both the artistic and personal kind dedicated to his late father. A "combination of nostalgia and blues,” as Dillingham writes in his personal notes, “represents the culmination of my family’s experience last fall.”

An accomplished composer as well as sought-after bassist in both the jazz and classical arenas, Dillingham, who appears on over 20 other jazz albums in addition to his own, offers six new jazz works, along with personal favorites: Lowlands by Gillian Welch, What’ll I Do by Irving Berlin, T.G.T.T. by Duke Ellington, and Boots of Spanish Leather by Bob Dylan.

His personal details of each work provide a rare, honest, inside look at an in-demand musician’s life, the personal experiences and emotions molded into music. Dillingham writes, “This album is dedicated to my late father, Larry Eugene Dillingham. His birthday is October 12, and the release date of the album was chosen in honor of him. The songs were developed in the months following my dad’s passing in September 2023. Many of them emerged from voice memos on my phone while singing along I-65 during several trips back and forth between Chicago and Bloomington, IN. The fall of 2023 brought both ups and downs—it felt like an emotional rollercoaster at times. Within the course of a week, I received news that I would be losing my dad and my teaching position. Simultaneously, my debut album was set to release days later, and I was preparing to lead a band at the Chicago Jazz Festival for the first time. Amidst all this, I had additional performances, including some at the Green Mill and more at the Chicago Jazz Festival. The emotional intensity during that period was overwhelming. As I reflect on it, I feel proud of the material that emerged. Grateful for my family, I decided to represent some of them with a song on this record.”

Grammy Award winning journalist Neil Tesser, who wrote the liner notes for Halcyon, comments on Dillingham’s experiences, both in the personal side and the musical translation, and states at the end of his notes, “That this journey transpires internally makes it no less thrilling, and no less picturesque, than the globetrotting adventures undertaken by the mythical Odysseus in his effort to return home — to his halcyon refuge — as recounted by Homer. It's fitting that Dillingham has filled this narrative with equally persuasive poetry.” (Tesser’s complete liner notes, Christian’s notes, along with other background materials are available in the press flipbook below.)

Halcyon’s official release will be celebrated with a CD release party on both Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Chicago’s The Green Mill (4802 N. Broadway Avenue) from 8:00 PM– 12 midnight ($20 cover charge). Christian will also perform Halcyon in a pre-release set at the 2024 Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 28 from 1:30 - 2:30 PM at The Wagner Stage, (Free), Midway Plaisance / S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago. For additional live Halcyon performances, please visit Christian’s website. www.christiandillingham.com.

among others. Dillingham also leads his own band, The Christian Dillingham Quartet, which features his original compositions.

On the classical stage, Christian Dillingham is a tenured member of the MacArthur Award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta, as well as a member of Present Music (Milwaukee), Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Matt Jones Orchestra, and Chicago Philharmonic. 

Greenleaf is a platform for a diversity of expression by Dave Douglas and our other artists. Each recording represents a new and distinct vision. In addition to being a home base for all of Douglas’ diverse projects since 2005, Greenleaf Music has been a launching pad for emerging artists and composers including Christian Dillingham, Rudy Royston, Trish Clowes, Marieke Wiening, Kazemede George, Webber/Morris Big Band and others. The releases have helped to establish these voices in today’s jazz scene both domestically and internationally. Producing CDs, vinyl records, downloads, sheet music, subscriptions, and podcasts as well as a blog with artist commentary and discussion, Greenleaf Music creates a dynamic community of listeners that supports artists fully and fairly.

All songs on Halcyon written by Christian Dillingham on Rill Dill Music Incorporated, ASCAP, with the exception of Lowlands by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (Wixen Publishing), What’ll I Do by Irving Berlin (Public Domain), T.G.T.T. by Duke Ellington (SONY ATV Publishing) and Boots of Spanish Leather by Bob Dylan (Universal Music Publishing).

Check Christian’s and Greenleaf music’s social media beginning September 9 for advance video performances of some of the works in Halcyon.

Press Contact:

Laura Grant, Grant Communications

+1.917.359.7319

Laura@grant-communications.com