A casual glance at
Dean Magraw’s career as a guitarist,
composer, arranger, and producer reveals an artist uniquely consistent
in his ability to rise to the highest level of musical expression in
a dazzling array of contexts.
Dean’s passion transcends all perceived musical boundaries,
yet the vital essence of his distinctive style is ever present, whether
he’s
performing and recording as a solo artist, leading his own ensembles
such as the experimental jam band Eight Head, or collaborating with such
notables as Japanese shamisen prodigy Nitta Masahiro, classical violinist
Nigel Kennedy, South Indian vocalist and vina virtuoso Nirmala Rajasheker,
epic songstress and storyteller Ruth MacKenzie, Irish supergroup Altan,
radio and film celebrity Garrison Keillor, jazz bassist Anthony Cox,
and countless others.
Once the listener gets beyond the history and into
the mystery, Dean the musician takes over: with tone and taste, unveiling
soulful melodic grooves intricately designed to heal the broken dancer,
confuse the boldest mathematician, and eradicate ennui in our lifetime.
“Dean Magraw… so liquid, lyrical and effortless it’s
like listening to a dancer.”
-Steve Tibbets