He’s been praised by greats like Wynton Marsalis (“Hey man, this motherfucker can play. [He] can play!”), admired by his peers, and yet has still managed to maintain his sweet, Midwestern charm. Effortlessly, saxophonist Stacy Dillard has staked his claim as a relative newcomer on the New York jazz scene. But make no mistake, Stacy is no stranger to the industry. He is the leader of three music groups – The Other Side, cPhyve, and cPhour – he’s dropped two albums in 2006 and still managed to find time to write and most importantly, relax. He jokes, “I like to read, play basketball, just hang… I like long walks. I’m a Leo.”
Through his solo work, and the work of his groups, Dillard has bridged the generation gap between jazz and more contemporary musical genres. He counts legendary gospel singer Pastor Shirley Ceaser as well as hip-hop’s Pete Rock and CL Smooth among his collaborators. And despite his “rookie status,” Dillard is playing like a well-seasoned, well-traveled musician.
“I’ve been to South Africa, Russia, France, London, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine… I’ve only got one page left on my passport,” he remarks.
On his premier solo album, Elite State of Mind , Stacy presents his manifesto to the jazz world. From the boisterous energy on “We Need Love,” to the sophisticated elegance on the title track his technique and originality remain ever-present. His creativity and distinctive voicing are a result of the writing process, in which he composes his works to his players, not the instrument. The outcome is magic; something jazz lovers across the generational spectrum can appreciate.
“That’s where all the training pays off. You get the studio. It’s already in your blood,” he casually admits. “Sometimes it’ll take a day, two days… Actually, two [my] albums [Elite State of Mind and cPhyve] were recorded on the say day. One or two takes.”