Dingman started piano and percussion lessons at an early age while growing up in San Jose. Dingman went on to Wesleyan University where he earned his B.A. He graduated with honors in music. While at Wesleyan, he studied intensively with vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, drummer Pheeroan AkLaff, composer/multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton, and mridangist David Nelson. He was also heavily involved in studying many musical cultures around the globe, including South Indian and West African musics, Korean musics, Afro-Cuban music, and Brazilian musics. His studies took him to Kerala, India in the summer 2000 to study mridangam, and South Indian classical music. Dingman was among seven musicians who were selected by Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, and Herbie Hancock to take part in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (USC) in Los Angeles in 2005. He studied at the Institute with Terence Blanchard and Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath and Benny Golson as well as Wynton Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis (Julie Bergonzi), Wynton Maralis, Wynton Marshalis, Jason Moran. Hal Crook, Hal Crook, Stefan Harris. John Magnussen, Vince Mendoza and Russell Ferrante. In 2007, he received his Master of Music degree at USC and Monk Institute. Dingman was able to perform with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock during his time at Monk Institute. They traveled with the Monk Institute ensemble to Vietnam on a U.S. State Department Vietnam tour in November 2005. They gave master classes and concerts in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. He traveled with Hancock, Shorter and the Monk Institute ensemble again in January 2007. They visited Mumbai, Calcutta and New Delhi in order to perform for large crowds. Also, they presented clinics at St. John’s School, Mumbai and the Ravi Shankar Institute, Delhi. Dingman started performing in New York City with Ambrose Akinmusire’s, Steve Lehman and Shorter, as well as Jen Shyu, Anthony Braxton (Fresh Sound/New Talent), Harris Eisenstadt, Adam Rudolph and Keith Witty. His playing has been featured in several critically acclaimed albums including Travail, Transformation and Flow by Steve Lehman, (Pi Recordings); and Prelude: To Cora by Ambrose Akinmusire, (Fresh Sound/New Talent); as well as Canada Day by Harris Eisenstadt (Clean Feed), among others. He appears as a guest on Gabriela Anders’s Bossa Beleza, (E1 Music/Koch Records), and Erica Von Kleist’s No Exceptions. He was named a Rising Star in vibes three times in a row in Downbeat Critics Polls 2009, 2010 and 2011. In addition, Jazz Journalist Association member Phil DiPietro recognized him for his top ten sideman performances in Jazz Journalist Association’s Jazz Journalist Association. Dingman launched his current project in the fall 2009 as a leader. The Waking Dreams suite is an evocative collection of music that flows smoothly from one movement to the next. It depicts a transformation from darkness to light, acceptance and consciousness that leads to a state that brings joy and peace. This project features a stellar quintet of musicians with vibes/saxophone/trumpet and piano, as well as Tommy Crane, Fabian Almazan and Joe Sanders. Waking Dreams, the studio album, was released to critical acclaim worldwide on June 21, 2011. In recent years, Dingman’s sideman activity has also been very successful. He took part in Noah Baerman’s composition suite, “Know Thyself”, funded by the Chamber Music America grant. The recording was made in a studio. He performed in Jen Shyu’s Raging Waters Red Sands in December 2009. This was a commission from the Jazz Gallery, and was made possible in part thanks to the Jerome Foundation. Anthony Braxton recorded him as the mallet percussionist for his soon to be released opera, Trillium E. He was also joined by Adam Rudolph’s Organic Orchestra and Bryan Copeland’s band, Bryan and The Aardvarks. Dingman has performed extensively in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. He also performed many times in New York. Chris is a teacher and performer who has taught students at all levels over the last 13 years. His teaching experience includes teaching master classes at conservatories and high schools across the country, as well as directing a summer music camp. He also leads jazz ensembles at both high school and middle school levels. He has also taught percussion classes to both children and adults. He is a private teacher of vibraphone, piano and percussion in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Greenwich, CT. www.chrisdingman.com
