At Middle C Jazz, the experience feels effortless. You arrive, you’re greeted with a smile, a cocktail finds its way to your table, and a world-class performance begins. But that “effortless” feeling is meticulously structured behind the scenes with a symphony of logistics—from sound checks and food prep to the complex task of arranging travel for national headliners. We often say we’re a family here, fluidly sharing roles to make your evening seamless. You might see a manager running plates, our video lead helping guests in the parking deck, or a server introducing the show.

One key player in this structural design is a man who knows a thing or two about building a groove: John Dillard (JD).

If JD hadn’t followed the path of musician to become a world-class bassist, he might instead have become an architect. It makes perfect sense. He’s so adept at building the structure and foundation to a set and a song.

Double Grammy-Winning Legacy
Many of you recognize JD as one of Charlotte’s “first-call” bass players. Whether he’s anchoring a local set or requested by a touring headliner, his musical reputation is gold.

JD’s career was built on a work ethic he learned from his father. While his dad wasn’t a touring pro, he had a rhythmic pulse that JD spent his youth emulating, playing along to vinyl records and studying the greats. That studious approach turned JD into a heavyweight in the industry. He isn’t just a seasoned pro; he is a two-time Grammy-certified bassist, recognized for his work on the projects Oh Happy Day and Heather Headley’s Audience of One.

Along the way, he’s collected enough stories to fill a weekly podcast. A few highlights from his “office hours”:

The Birthday Gig: Performing with Gospel legend John P. Kee at soul icon James Brown’s birthday party.
The Stephanie Mills Challenge: Meeting the R&B legend in Barbados just 20 minutes before showtime. She told JD he “better know her music.” Having studied her music since childhood, JD played flawlessly, and she spent the set dancing with him.
The Trifecta: Meeting David Sanborn, George Duke, and Marcus Miller all in a single evening.

Pillar of Middle C Programming
After years of global touring, JD brought his talents home to Middle C. Introduced to the Farber family by keyboardist Rodney Shelton, JD’s role quickly expanded from performing to booking. Using his deep industry roots, he provides both a keen ear and “insider” insight to help curate the roster of artists you come to see every week, to ensure our stage remains world-class.

After handling bookings, rehearsals, and late-night sets, JD finds a rhythm in his downtime, too. JD likes time with his family, a quiet morning at the lake, golf with friends (where trash-talk is expected), cycling solo to get centered, photography, or just a moment on his patio after a satisfying gig.

Both on and off the stage, JD is an architect of the groove at Middle C who knows how to make every minute count.

For a taste of JD’s killer curating skills AND playing, enjoy the next in his Thursday Party Night series: The Kings & Queens of R&B and the New Jack Swing, Thursday March 26th, also featuring Lauren Jade, Drew Robinson and Ryan Brown. 

Article written by Middle C Jazz Marketing Support, Scott Homewood