Sam Dillon

Biography

Native New Yorker Sam Dillon is a highly regarded jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator who has emerged as one of the most in-demand musicians of his generation. His early introduction to jazz came at age 9, inspired by the theme from the Pink Panther, and he began studying saxophone shortly thereafter. Dillon played his first professional gig at just 14 years old with legendary trombonist Al Grey, setting the stage for a prolific career. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Jazz Performance from SUNY Purchase College in 2009, followed by an Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School in 2016, making him one of the few musicians to hold three degrees in music performance.

Dillon’s career is marked by extensive work as both a bandleader and sideman, with over 40 studio recordings and performances at major venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Blue Note. He is recognized for his powerful tenor saxophone voice and has released several acclaimed albums, such as 'Out In The Open' (2018), 'Force Field' (2019), and 'It Takes One To Know One' (2022, co-led with Andrew Gould). Dillon’s musical style blends bebop, hard bop, and contemporary jazz, reflecting his deep roots in the New York jazz tradition. He is also a dedicated educator, serving as Jazz Director at USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts and teaching at Juilliard’s MAP program.

Fun Facts

• Sam Dillon appeared as a clarinetist in the HBO series 'Boardwalk Empire'.
• He was selected as a semifinalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 2013, performing at the Smithsonian Institute for jazz legends including Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Heath.
• Dillon received a Grammy Certificate in 2022 for his work on The 8-Bit Big Band’s 'Meta Knight’s Revenge (From 'Kirby Superstar')'.
• He started playing saxophone in the 4th grade and played his first gig at age 14 with Al Grey.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Al Grey - early mentor and first professional collaborator (live performances) [early career]
• Jimmy Heath - band leader and mentor through the Jimmy Heath Big Band (Jimmy Heath Big Band) [ongoing]
• Slide Hampton - band leader and mentor through the Slide Hampton Octet (Slide Hampton Octet) [ongoing]

Key Collaborators

• Andrew Gould - co-leader on 'It Takes One To Know One' (It Takes One To Know One (2022)) [2022]
• Frank Basile - co-leader on 'Two Part Solution' (Two Part Solution (2020)) [2020]
• Mark Sherman - sideman on 'With Freedom' (With Freedom (2023)) [2023]
• Chris Hajian - sideman on 'A Portrait in Melancholy' (A Portrait in Melancholy (2023)) [2023]
• The Mingus Big Band - member and soloist (multiple recordings and tours) [ongoing]
• The 8-Bit Big Band - member and Grammy-recognized performer (Meta Knight’s Revenge (From 'Kirby Superstar')) [ongoing]

Artists Influenced

• USDAN Summer Camp students - as Jazz Director, has mentored young jazz musicians (USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts) [past 6 years]
• Juilliard MAP students - as saxophone instructor, has taught emerging artists (Juilliard MAP program) [ongoing]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Gourmet Race (From "Kirby Superstar") (Backwards Compatible)
2. Samba de Orfeu (Two Part Solution)
3. The Cardiff Giant (Two Part Solution)
4. Into The Void
5. Delusion (Delusion)
6. SD Card
7. This Time Around
8. Keep Goin' Gotta Keep Up
9. Past Time
10. No Promises (My Ideal)

External Links

• Spotify