From Laura Marling to Yola to Billy Bragg & JP Cooper… C.J. Hillman is one of the U.K.’s leading Americana Session Musicians.
‘AMA UK - Instrumentalist of the year’ 2017 - 2019
About…
Multi Instrumentalist Chris ‘CJ’ Hillman has been one of the leading Session Musicians in his field for the last decade.
A Guitarist since age 8 and picking up Mandolin a few years later, It wasn’t long until his interest in 60s & 70s Country bands pulled him towards the Pedal Steel Guitar and Dobro .
Playing around the U.K. for a few years CJ cut his teeth playing up and down the country trying to find his feet as a session musician. Things changed when he met Sid Griffin (of the Long Ryders/Coal Porters) who passed his details on to Billy Bragg who was looking to form a new band.
In 2013 CJ toured with Billy Bragg and Band promoting the ‘Tooth & Nail’ Album around the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia . The band ticked a few shows off the bucket list with this project such as playing ‘The Pyramid Stage’ at Glastonbury, ‘Hardly Strictly Bluegrass’ in San Francisco to The Sydney Opera House in Australia…
Since then CJ has worked with Billy as a duo on and off since 2014 mainly in Europe and Australia.
While in the USA CJ met Joe Purdy and went on to record 2 albums (‘Eagle Rock Fire’ & ‘Who Will Be Next’ along with a two extensive USA tours and round in 2017 Europe hoping planes and trains with a Pedal Steel Guitar & Mandolin.
While working with Joe, they both played on the Cayamo Cruise guesting with artists such as Kris Kristofferson, Holly Williams, The Secret Sisters, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale.
In between tours CJ would find any chance to fly to Nashville or LA to be involved with the Music scenes out there especially around the US A.M.A week in September. Here he met artists such as Luke Bulla, Caroline Spence to name a couple who he has recorded or toured with since.
Back in the U.K. CJ’s work was recognised by the Americana Music Association, Awarding ‘Multi Instrumentalist Of The Year’ in 2017 & 2019 and becoming part of the house band.
In more recent years CJ has worked with Yola as part of her touring band in Europe, Lauren Housley, recorded Pedal Steel on Laura Marling’s album ‘Song For Our Daughter’ and worked with JP Copper on two upcoming releases. He is also a member of the Black Eyed Dogs, along with Ethan Johns, Nick Pini, Georgina Leach, Jeremy Stacey and Dave Smith..
If you are interested in working with CJ on a session or in a live capacity Click HERE to get in touch.
Also check out CJ’s instagram and Facebook profiles to see the latest news.
