Zephyr Acoustic Productions
David Alderson
2314 Johnson St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Tel: 612.781.1595
email: david@zapmusic.org

Since his earliest performing days, critically acclaimed guitarist and composer Dean Magraw has performed in a cornucopia of musical worlds. Among his influences are various blues styles, including the country blues of Robert Johnson, diverse jazz styles, western classical music, Hindustani and Carnatic Indian music, the music of Armenian duduk player Djivan Gasparyan, and folk and traditional genres from many cultures.

Dean studied composition at the University of Minnesota under C. Lee Humphries and Steven Barnett, and attended Berklee College of Music where he received his Associates Degree in instrumental performance in 1977. He also studied privately with Boston area experimental guitarist John Damian and Be-Bop saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi.

In addition to solo tours in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Magraw's unique, soulful style has made him a favorite collaborator of other internationally touring artists. For 15 years, Dean's live and recorded performances with Prairie Home Companion violinist/mandolinist Peter Ostroushko have been celebrated by audiences and critics worldwide. He has also performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, the traditional Irish super group Altan, with singer/songwriters Paul Brady, Greg Brown, John Gorka, jazz bassist Anthony Cox, bluegrass fiddler Byron Berline, jazz violinist Randy Sabien, traditional Irish multi-instrumentalist John Williams, experimental guitarist Steve Tibbetts, Jam-Band rockers Big Wu, tabla artist Marcus Wise, veena virtuoso Nirmala Rajasheker, the world music trio Eight Head, radio host Garrison Keillor, and jazz organist Jack McDuff, to name a small sampling.

Besides appearing on countless recording projects as a sideman, producer, arranger, and composer, Dean has released three solo CDs. The first two, Broken Silence and Seventh One were nominated by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors for the "Indie" Award for Best Acoustic Instrumental of the Year, the equivalent of a Grammy for smaller independent labels. Broken Silence won this award in 1994. In 2003, Dean celebrated the release of his latest recording, Heavy Meadow which features his solo guitar compositions soaring effortlessly through myriad emotional soundscapes from serenity to intensity and beyond.

Dean's dynamic compositions range from spacious heartfelt melodies to explosive, spirited flights of passion. His highly original performances reflect his love of music in all its dynamic and tonal splendor as he playfully seduces full spectrum sounds from a limitless palate of wood and steel.