Sam Dillon
Sam Dillon, a native New Yorker, is a saxophonist, composer, and educator who has established himself as one of the most in-demand musicians of his generation. His prolific work as both a soloist and sideman includes over 20 studio recordings, global performances, and widespread critical acclaim. Dillon’s latest album as a leader, Force Field (Posi-Tone, 2019), features a stellar lineup including Max Darché, Andrew Gould, Michael Dease, Theo Hill, David Wong, and Anwar Marshall. His debut album, Out In The Open (2018), marked the beginning of his leadership recordings.
Dillon maintains an active performance schedule in New York City and internationally, leading his own groups and performing with top ensembles such as The Jimmy Heath Big Band, The Slide Hampton Octet, The Mingus Big Band, The Frank Basile Quintet, The 8-Bit Big Band, The Steven Feifke Big Band, and The New Alchemy Jazz Orchestra.
He has performed or recorded with jazz luminaries including Ron Carter, Roger Humphries, Joe Chambers, Randy Brecker, Vincent Herring, David Weiss, John Riley, Jimmy Greene, Dwayne Burno, and Orrin Evans. Dillon has appeared at prestigious venues and festivals such as The Detroit Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Yoshi’s Jazz Club, The 55 Bar, The Zinc Bar, The Kitano Hotel, Smoke Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Iridium, The Jazz Standard, Symphony Space, Carnegie Hall, and Blue Note NYC. His work has also been featured on WBGO with The Purchase Jazz Collective, and on HBO shows Royal Pains and Boardwalk Empire.
In 2013, Dillon was selected as one of thirteen semi-finalists in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, performing at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. He earned an Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School in 2016 as part of the prestigious Artist Diploma Jazz Program, performing and teaching internationally at festivals including Tokyo Jazz Festival, Torino Jazz Festival, São Paulo Jazz Festival, and Lincoln Center.
Beyond performing, Dillon is the Jazz Director at USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts, a Woodwind Teaching Artist for The New York Pops, a saxophone instructor for The Juilliard MAP program, and an improvisation teacher for The Big Apple Music Festival.
Sam Dillon, a native New Yorker, is a saxophonist, composer, and educator who has established himself as one of the most in-demand musicians of his generation. His prolific work as both a soloist and sideman includes over 20 studio recordings, global performances, and widespread critical acclaim. Dillon’s latest album as a leader, Force Field (Posi-Tone, 2019), features a stellar lineup including Max Darché, Andrew Gould, Michael Dease, Theo Hill, David Wong, and Anwar Marshall. His debut album, Out In The Open (2018), marked the beginning of his leadership recordings.
Dillon maintains an active performance schedule in New York City and internationally, leading his own groups and performing with top ensembles such as The Jimmy Heath Big Band, The Slide Hampton Octet, The Mingus Big Band, The Frank Basile Quintet, The 8-Bit Big Band, The Steven Feifke Big Band, and The New Alchemy Jazz Orchestra.
He has performed or recorded with jazz luminaries including Ron Carter, Roger Humphries, Joe Chambers, Randy Brecker, Vincent Herring, David Weiss, John Riley, Jimmy Greene, Dwayne Burno, and Orrin Evans. Dillon has appeared at prestigious venues and festivals such as The Detroit Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Yoshi’s Jazz Club, The 55 Bar, The Zinc Bar, The Kitano Hotel, Smoke Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Iridium, The Jazz Standard, Symphony Space, Carnegie Hall, and Blue Note NYC. His work has also been featured on WBGO with The Purchase Jazz Collective, and on HBO shows Royal Pains and Boardwalk Empire.
In 2013, Dillon was selected as one of thirteen semi-finalists in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, performing at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. He earned an Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School in 2016 as part of the prestigious Artist Diploma Jazz Program, performing and teaching internationally at festivals including Tokyo Jazz Festival, Torino Jazz Festival, São Paulo Jazz Festival, and Lincoln Center.
Beyond performing, Dillon is the Jazz Director at USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts, a Woodwind Teaching Artist for The New York Pops, a saxophone instructor for The Juilliard MAP program, and an improvisation teacher for The Big Apple Music Festival.