First Monday Jazz: Justin Dillard

First Monday Jazz: Justin Dillard

Things Ain’t What They Used To Be: An Homage To Duke Ellington feat. Justin Dillard. Join us for a free evening of live jazz, celebrating the timeless music of Duke Ellington.

From Justin:
“Duke Ellington is the often uncredited modern example of a musical hero whose freedom and expansion of one’s self in a era of traditional liabilities, spans time. His song: “Things Aint What They Used To Be”, concurrently the title of this show, certainly describes what was, and what currently is; but depending on how you view that, both perspectives can be correct.”

BIO

Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Justin Dillard honed his craft at Vandercook College of Music and through the rich experiences at The Velvet Lounge—two institutions that significantly shaped his musical journey. These experiences afforded him the privilege of working with local and global innovators alike. Justin has performed, recorded, and studied with luminaries such as Branford Marsalis, Robert Irving III, Ornette Coleman, Kahil El’Zabar, Willie Pickens, Bobby Broom, the late NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman, George Freeman, and the revered pillar of Chicago’s jazz community, Fred Anderson, among others.

Chicago Tribune arts critic Howard Reich praises Justin’s talents, writing: “A new generation of jazz improvisers has emerged in Chicago in recent years, but few are more promising than organist/pianist Justin Dillard. Musically, Dillard tends to be all over the keyboard, drawing upon the examples of virtuosos such as his mentors, the late Dr. Lonnie Smith and McCoy Tyner, respectively. But there’s something more to Dillard’s work as well; a quest for new ideas in music, in the manner of his AACM mentors.”

Justin has performed on national television (ABC) with his pioneering organ trio, The DOT, and continues to push the boundaries of his career by composing for and performing with his diverse array of organ ensembles. Whether on stage or in the studio, he remains a constant collaborator with some of the greatest musicians across the globe. Stay tuned for what’s next.