“I’m known in the jazz world as this burning tenor saxophone player,” says Sam Dillon — and this reputation has brought him far and wide. Dillon will be performing with London-based musicians Mátyás Gayer (piano), Mátyás Hofecker (bass) and Mark Taylor (drums) as part of EFG London Jazz Festival on 15 and 16 November at Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club in Kennington. The residency is presented in partnership with Birdland NYC.
Having performed with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Jimmy Heath Big Band — and, more recently, the Steven Feifke Big Band and the 8-Bit Big Band — Dillon has earned that honorific and much more.
Dillon’s artistry — burning, yes, but also so much more than that — has also led him to perform with Ron Carter, Roger Humphries, Joe Chambers, Randy Brecker, Vincent Herring, David Weiss, and a host of other leading lights.
UK Jazz News: What’s your relationship with the UK? Have you played there before?
Sam Dillon: Yeah — I think twice. I was on tour with the Mingus Big Band, and we did the Tokyo Jazz Festival for a week, and then we were at Ronnie Scott’s for a week. But as far as leading my own band in the UK — no, that’s the first time that’s happened. To be at a jazz festival under my name is very cool.
UKJN: Can you talk about your accompanists, and the concept of the band?
SD: For this gig, it’s going to be my music. It’s going to be a combination of all the different recordings that I’ve put out — from the first one that I put out as a leader, to some music from the band with me and [baritone saxophonist] Frank Basile.
[Saxophonist] Andrew [Gould] and I just recorded my own quartet album again. Actually, we just recorded another quintet album. So, in 2025, I think I’m going to have, technically, two albums out, as a leader or co-leader.
I’m going to have a lot of music to draw from. In this particular situation, they’re not bringing out my band. They’re just bringing me out. I’m kind of pulling a Sonny Stitt, so to speak — a one-man show — and they arranged to have a house band there.
So, I’m not familiar with all the musicians — but I did look them up online, and they’re great. They hooked me up with a great band. I’m going to do this whole thing where I send them maybe 10 to 15 charts, and they’re going to check it out, and then we’re just going to play.
UKJN: What will the London Jazz Fest attendees hear?
SD: I can’t even believe I’m saying this, but a “Best of Sam Dillon” thing is going to be the vibe.
You know, the dream I share with Andrew is for me and him to be going around the world and doing this kind of stuff together — two saxophones. That’s definitely in the works. We’re going to try to promote that thing when the next album comes out. But for right now, this is a thing where they just had me come.
UKJN: How do you navigate unfamiliar musical situations, like playing with an unfamiliar band?
SD: I think that in this day and age, people are so familiar with everyone’s playing style. You can look someone up and get a feel for it.
Part of the jazz thing is that we speak a common language, and that it’s fun. This is a gig where I’m probably not going to ask them to play my hardest compositiions; it’ll probably be a straight ahead kind of gig, and maybe I’ll even play some standards with them.
UKJN: You’ll teach a masterclass at London Jazz Fest. Care to share anything about that?
SD: It’s going to be at one of the universities, and I’m supposed to be doing private lessons as well.
I’m known in the jazz world as this burning tenor saxophone player — but as far as I’m concerned, I just want to make sure that I can play the saxophone well, from an almost simplistic viewpoint, and just listen to great saxophone players.
When I try to help college-level and professional people starting out for the first time, the way forward for me is to study the craft of music, more than worry about being a standout artist.
Other Shows in Toulouse Lautrec’s LJF programme
Sunday 17th – The Sam Every (Little) Big Band “TV Time” – 2pm & 7pm
Monday 18th – NYJO Under 18s
Tuesday 19th – Andrea Rinciari Quartet ft. Alex Garnett
Wednesday 20th – Sletta – Neo Soul, Jazz & Folk
Thursday 21st – Sly5thAve – Grammy Award Soul, R&B, Jazz. (Double Show)
Friday 22nd – Sly5thAve – Grammy Award Soul, R&B, Jazz. (Double Show)
Saturday 23rd – Omar Puente Charanga Cuban Fusion Jazz Sextet (Double Show)
Sunday 24th – Women in Jazz Media Anniversary Celebration
