UDC Professor Christie Dashiell Gears Up for Grammys

UDC Professor Christie Dashiell Gears Up for Grammys

January 27, 2025

UDC Professor Christie Dashiell Gears Up for Grammys

Christie Dashiell

When Christie Dashiell was 7 or 8, she sang a duet with her award-winning father, jazz bassist Carroll Dashiell, Jr. At that moment, she knew she’d have a professional career in singing one day.

That day has long since arrived—Dashiell has been gracing stages all over the world for years. Now, with her unwavering determination and exceptional talent, the UDC music professor is preparing to attend the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 2 as a first-time nominee, in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album for the remarkable “Journey in Black.”

“I am extremely nervous and happy,” Dashiell said. “This is something you dream of as an artist. I’m honored and grateful for the recognition.”

“Journey in Black,” her sophomore album, is just that—a journey. Dashiell’s voice takes the listener through rich, expressive melodies and spontaneous improvisations. Its groovy rhythms and harmonies create an evocative and introspective atmosphere, making it a truly captivating listen.

“I got the inspiration for this album from the COVID-19 period,” Dashiell said.

“The world was going through so many things, so many emotions. I wanted to make sure that folks had something uplifting to listen to post the George Floyd murder.”

Dashiell sought to channel her feelings through her talent and write songs that speak to the pain the world was enduring.

“It was important for me not to focus on pain and suffering in my music, but to write music with themes that reflect a more expansive Black experience. I feel like we have so many stories that speak about our pain in an exploitative way, and I didn’t want to do that,” she said.

The result is a soulful, moving, expressive, melancholic and yet joyous jazz album. Her artistry is masterful and heartfelt.

Dashiell has a Bachelor of Music from Howard University, where she also teaches today, and a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music. She grew up in Greenville, North Carolina, and was surrounded by music—starting with her family.

Her father is listed among the Who’s Who in Music. He has performed at concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, Maurice Hines, Stephanie Mills, Vanessa Rubin, Jennifer Holliday and Ray Charles. Her mother, Rhonda, is also a renowned artist, having performed at DAR Constitution Hall, the White House and the Kennedy Center, and appeared in numerous gospel recordings and jingles.

Rhonda eventually put her career on hold to support her children, who showed an interest in music early on. Her dedication paid off—all four are professional artists pursuing careers they love.

Dashiell’s sister, Cameron, is an actor. Her older brother, Carroll “CV” Dashiell III, is a drummer/percussionist who played on “Journey in Black.” Her younger brother, Christian, plays bass and performed on her first album.

The artist counts her family among her biggest supporters.

“I love that I grew up in such a rich musical environment, and I love collaborating with my family,” Dashiell said. “Carroll was a child prodigy in drumming, and it means a lot to me that he plays on this album.”

Alongside her family, Dashiell has found unwavering support from her friend and mentor, the esteemed musician, composer, pianist, arranger and producer Allyn Johnson.

Johnson, director of jazz studies at UDC, is a well-known musician who is sought-after worldwide and played piano on “Journey in Black.”

“Allyn is like a big brother to me, and he is why I chose to teach at UDC,” she said. “He inspires me musically, and I decided that if he’s teaching here, I want to teach here too.”

The admiration flows both ways.

“When you hear Christie Dashiell, you know you’re listening to someone special,” Johnson said. “Her Grammy-nominated album ‘Journey in Black’ has garnered well-deserved praise for her originality both as a vocalist and composer with a deep connection to Black musical traditions—someone who blends history with innovation in a way uniquely her own. She’s not just following in the footsteps of those who came before her but is also pushing boundaries in her own right.”

“I’ve enjoyed working with Christie for many years. Having Christie as part of the jazz voice faculty brings a rich, unique perspective to our program,” he said.

UDC Professor Johnny Butler is similarly appreciative of Dashiell’s contributions—sharing a connection that goes beyond the professional realm.

“Not only is she my colleague, but we are cousins.”

Butler says he first heard Dashiell sing when she competed on NBC’s a cappella show “The Sing-Off” as part of Howard University’s Afro Blue. “She’s an extraordinarily talented musician.”

“Professor Dashiell is a hidden gem within the academic halls of the university, and I’m glad to see that she’s finally getting recognized at large,” he said.

UDC’s College of Arts and Sciences is also celebrating Dashiell’s career.

“Her Grammy-nominated album, ‘Journey in Black,’ resonates with the heartbeat of soul, the elegance of grace, and the unyielding power of culture,” said CAS Dean Jeffery Fleming.

“Rooted in the rich, warm embrace of jazz, her music is a tapestry of lived experience, a symphony of heritage, and a testament to the beauty of her journey,” he said.

Dashiell also lists among her inspirations UDC Professor and Music Program Director Judith Korey.

“Professor Korey is a D.C. music and music-education legend,” Dashiell said. “She’s taught some of D.C.’s most talented musicians. I also admire how she makes it a point to get to know each of the music students at UDC personally—she leads the department with so much care.”

Korey is also the curator of the university’s acclaimed jazz research and resource center, the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives. Named after an internationally renowned jazz authority and radio personality, the archives house information on some of Dashiell’s favorite singers: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Shirley Horn.

As a master improviser herself, Dashiell relates to these icons—women who left an indelible mark on music—because of their love of and talent for improvisation.

The singer made her own mark with her debut solo album, “Time All Mine,” released in 2016. It made a splash on Billboard’s Jazz Album Chart at No. 13 and the Contemporary Jazz Album Chart at No. 22 and also caught the attention of JazzTimes Magazine.

Her talent also shines through as a featured artist on multiple recordings, including Wynton Marsalis’ “The Ever Fonky Lowdown” with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and a Janet Jackson cover on compilation album “Supreme Sonacy.”

Dashiell has performed worldwide, including at Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, the Baku International Jazz Festival in Azerbaijan, and Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo.

Over the past few weeks, Dashiell has been busy preparing for the Grammys, including visiting her stylist, Deidra Butler, in Philadelphia and settling on a customized look from designer Ayasa Afi.

“I can’t wait. Getting all dressed up is one of the most enjoyable things about attending the Grammys,” Dashiell said.

The musician, who used to dress up and sing in front of the mirror with a hair comb as her microphone, has come full circle.

The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony will take place Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. The winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album will be announced during the afternoon pre-ceremony.

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