Christopher Dawson-Biography and professional credits Christopher Dawson was born on November 20th, 1969 and began playing piano by ear at age seven. Within a short time, he was introduced to his first piano teacher, Carol Weiss, who taught him Scott Joplin rags, as well as many songs dating from the 1920's and 30's. By age nine, Dawson landed his first steady gig playing ragtime and swing at a restaurant in Hollywood. By age ten, Chris had made his decision to become a professional musician after being a featured act, along with the Nicholas Brothers, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne at the twenty-fifth annual Thalians Ball in Beverly Hills. While Dawson faithfully continued his study of ragtime and "Harlem Stride" piano throughout high school, it was during his junior year that he was introduced to more modern forms of jazz by his second teacher, Buddy Motsinger. The piano music of Bill Evans, Lennie Tristano, Hank Jones, Sonny Clark and Bud Powell were strong influences early on. Chris' first test to incorporate these new styles came during his senior year, when he won a national music competition, the "Arts Recognition and Talent Search," which resulted in a scholarship to the University of Southern California during the fall of 1987. At USC, Chris studied with Cedar Walton and received an Advanced Studies Certificate from the Jazz Department in 1990. Since graduation, Dawson has studied with other notable musicians, including Alan Broadbent, Jimmy Rowles, Fred Hersch and arranging with John Clayton. While living in Los Angeles and New York City, Christopher has been the featured artist at many respected venues, including The Jazz Bakery, Birdland, Vine St. Bar and Grill, Le Café, Jazz at the Crowne, Casa Del Mar, Shutters by the Beach Hotel, Smalls, Visiones, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Vibrato, Loews Hotel and Steamers Cafe. In addition to Jazz venues, he has also appeared at the Comedy Store and the Improv, accompanying notable improvisational groups such as, "Funny You Should Ask," and "Off The Wall". Dawson has been featured on a number of recordings, including Rebecca Kilgore's "Harlem Butterfly" and "The Music Of Maxine Sullivan, vol. II", Ruth Cameron's, "First Songs" and "Roadhouse", Evan Christopher's, "Classic Jazz Classics" and "Clarinet Road", Hal Smith's, "Concentratin' On Fats-The Music of Fats Waller", Renee Olstead's, "Renee Olstead" and Marty Grosz's, "Keep A Song In Your Soul". Christopher has also worked and recorded with such notable musician as Dan Barrett, Brian Bromberg, Larry Bunker, Frank Capp, Jim Cullum, Jerry Dodgion, Ron Eschete, David Foster, Gary Foster, Charlie Haden, Julie Kelly, Joe LaBarbera, Larance Marable, Ed Polcer, Ruth Price, Stacy Rowles, Jack Sheldon, Bob Sheppard, David Sills, Tierney Sutton, Alan Vache, Tom Warrington, and Britt Woodman.