Chris Dingman began piano and percussion studies....

«about»
Chris Dingman began piano and percussion studies at an early age in his hometown of San Jose, CA. Upon moving to the east coast at the age of 18, he discovered the instrument that would become his life's passion: the vibraphone. Since then, Chris has had the opportunity to perform, study, and travel with many of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. As a composer, performer, and teacher, Chris fuses numerous cultural and stylistic influences into a progressive approach to the vibraphone in improvisational music.
Photo By: Tracy Kroll

«education»
In 2007, Chris received his Master of Music degree from the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Chris was one of only seven musicians selected by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Terence Blanchard to participate in the two year program starting in 2005. At the Institute, Chris had the opportunity to study with Terence Blanchard, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Jerry Bergonzi, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Lewis Nash, Hal Crook, Stefan Harris, John Magnussen, Vince Mendoza, Russell Ferrante, and many others.

Chris received his B.A. with honors in music from Wesleyan University in 2002. At Wesleyan, Chris studied intensively with vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, drummer Pheeroan AkLaff, composer/multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton, and mridangist David Nelson. Chris was heavily involved in the world music program at Wesleyan, studying South Indian, West African, Korean, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian music. In the summer of 2000, his studies brought him to Kerala, India to study mridangam and South Indian classical music.

«performance/projects»
In November of 2005, Chris traveled with the Monk Institute ensemble on a U.S. State Department tour of Vietnam, where they performed with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Nneena Freelon in concerts and master classes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In January of 2007, Chris traveled again with Hancock and Shorter, this time to Mumbai, Calcutta, New Delhi, and Agra, India, where they performed for capacity crowds and presented clinics at the Ravi Shankar Institute in Delhi and St. John's School in Mumbai.

Now based in New York City, Chris has been performing and recording with a variety of musical artists, including Ambrose Akinmusire, Harris Eisenstadt, Steve Lehman, Adam Rudolph, Tyshawn Sorey, Keith Witty, and many others. His most recent recording efforts as a sideman include the albums On Meaning by Steve Lehman, Prelude: to Cora by Ambrose Akinmusire, Canada Day by Harris Eisenstadt, and The World Without Us by Keith Witty. Chris was also recently featured as a guest on Gabriela Anders' album Bossa Beleza, released on the JVC Japan label.

«teaching»
In addition to performing, Chris has been teaching students of all ages and levels for the past 10 years. Chris's extensive teaching experience includes directing a summer music camp for students ages 11-18, leading jazz ensembles at the high school and middle school levels, teaching group percussion classes for both children and adults, and presenting master classes at high schools and conservatories both nationally and internationally. Chris also teaches vibraphone, percussion, and jazz improvisation privately in Brooklyn and in Greenwich, CT. Please contact chris@chrisdingman.com for more information about lessons or clinics in the tri-state area.
 
«appearances»
Jan 30 Brooklyn, NY Jalopy Theater Keith Witty Quintet
Feb 6 New York, NY Hawaiian Tropic Zone Adam Larson Group
Feb 26-27 New York, NY I-Beam Harris Eisenstadt's Canada Day
Mar 2 Brooklyn, NY Public Assembly Progressive Youth Club
Mar 8,15 New York, NY Roulette Adam Rudolph's Organic Orchestra
Mar 18 New York, NY Jazz Gallery Chris Dingman's WAKING DREAMS
Mar 22, 29 New York, NY Roulette Adam Rudolph's Organic Orchestra