Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago-based jazz bassist and composer Christopher Dammann.
On this episode, we dig into his compelling new 2026 project, Dead Words, and the evolving musical life of an artist deeply connected to the world of jazz and improvised music.
Dead Words is a collection of spiritual contrafacts that traces a fascinating path from bebop through free jazz and into today's landscape of improvised music. Following his 2025 sextet debut, the new release further establishes Christopher Dammann's distinctive compositional voice — historically grounded, deeply swinging, adventurous, and committed to exploration without nostalgia.
Released by Shifting Paradigm Records, Dead Words features an extraordinary ensemble including Jim Baker, Jon Irabagon, James Davis, and Mike Reed, alongside Dammann's bass and compositions.
We also get into Christopher's life as a performer and composer, his approach to writing and improvisation, the evolution of his sound, and his work as a teaching artist with The People's Music School of Chicago, the city's largest tuition-free music school.
This is a conversation about Chicago jazz, modern jazz composition, free jazz, bebop, improvisation, jazz history, musical exploration, education, and the artists continuing to push the music forward.
Dig this interview with Christopher Dammann and discover Dead Words.
Get the album — Dead Words:
Christopher Dammann — Dead Words on Bandcamp
More about The People's Music School:
The People's Music School of Chicago
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