Versatile. Dynamic. Compelling. Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian Dillingham is known for his nuanced interpretations and dynamic performances. A sought-after collaborator, he can be heard in both the jazz and classical stages and recording arenas.
A regular presence in Chicago’s rich jazz scene, Dillingham has performed and recorded with dozens of distinguished musicians. Amongst those he has performed with are Sean Jones, Jazzmeia Horn, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Terreon Gully, Herlin Riley, Bobby Broom, Peter Bernstein, and Victor Goines. Venue credits include the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, Hungry Brain, Constellation Chicago, Andy’s Jazz Club, Elastic Arts, and Chicago Jazz Festival, among others.
Dillingham also leads his own bands, The Christian Dillingham Quartet and The Christian Dillingham Trio, 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. Other renowned organizations with which he has performed include the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, the Chicago Opera Theatre and the modern orchestra Alarm Will Sound.
A prolific recording artist, Dillingham appears on over 20 albums in the jazz genre alone. In the classical field, he also appears on albums by the Chicago Sinfonietta and Camerata Chicago. For Greenleaf Music, Dillingham released Cascades (September 2023), his acclaimed debut recording, and his second album, Halcyon (October 2024).