Dean Magraw
// composer & guitaristDEAN MAGRAW is an arranger, composer, guitarist, and music producer from St. Paul, Minnesota. “Broken Silence” (1994), and “Seventh One” (1998) are both available from Red House Records, “Heavy Meadow” (2004) is available from Acoustic Music, Lifescapes’ “Murphy’s Irish Pub” (2005), “Dreaming Of Ireland” (2005), “Celtic Hymns” (2006), and “Celtic Passion” (2006) are all available from the Target Lifescapes Series, Dean Magraw and John Williams’ “Raven” (2006) is available from Compass Records, Dean Magraw Trio’s “Unseen Rain” (2007) is available from Candyrat Records, Silver’s “Boiled In Lead” (2008) is available from Omnium, Lifescapes’ “Music For Healing” (2008) is available from the Target Lifescapes Series, Francois Corneloup’s “NExT” (2008) is available from Hope Street, and Dean Magraw’s “Foxfire” (2008) is available from Candyrat Records. Dean Magraw has collaborated with many musicians including 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, jazz bassist Anthony Cox, among many others.
Website: www.deanmagraw.com
Photo: Manfred Pollert / DeanMagraw.com
Interview:
“My goal is to live the truly religious life and express it in my music.”
– John Coltrane (1926 – 1967), jazz composer and saxophonist
Vibrations connect us all. When we gather, in whatever shape or form, to immerse ourselves in music, we feel our souls unfold and our emotions melt together. Artificial boundaries dissolve into the collective ocean of “us”. Carefully constructed ego identities are exposed as useless baggage during our journey inside sound …
along the enlightening storylines of melody,
the dancing heartbeat of rhythm,
the majestic soundscapes of harmony,
the refreshing breath of silence –
all weaving and indivisible.
Here we are, in concert with our own sensibilities, celebrating the infinite presence of the divine, however one defines “it”. The music seduces, guides, and propels us towards our deepest selves where we feel at one with the universe. This “Universal Language” crosses geographical, ethnic, national, and every other class of boundary to …
deliver every kind of healing message
while (as the poet says)
awakening the divine crazed soul.
Speaking from my personal history, I thrive during the moments when “I” disappear into the abundance of spirit. I might be in an “audience”. I might be on stage or recording. I might be sitting alone in “practice” mode. I could be listening to birdsongs. It happens when it happens – “playing” music also becomes “praying” music. All the lofty words evaporate and we just feel the music.
We feel the music.
These blessings in turn teach us to practice compassion and patience when dealing with ourselves, other beings, our planet, and all of creation. We are inspired, within the limits of our human abilities, to reach for the highest levels of kindness, generosity, honesty, and forgiveness while engaged in the sacred gift of life.
“Vibrations connect us all. When we gather, in whatever shape or form, to immerse ourselves in music, we feel our souls unfold and our emotions melt together.”
– Dean Magraw, composer and guitarist
