ArtistInfo

Dexter Story

cym, dr, voc,
Composer / Arranger of Jazz
A.k.a. Wondem

Dexter Story is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and music director. Named after the jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon, Story was raised in a music-friendly household taking music theory, guitar and piano at an early age and eventually fronting and touring in local Los Angeles bands by age 14. After earning an undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and performing with a diverse array of musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Ernie Watts, John Stubblefield, Slide Hampton, Jeff Narell and Eric Reed, Story also worked in multiple facets of the music industry (from marketing director at Priority, Def Jam and Bad Boy Records to talent buyer at the legendary LA club Temple Bar) enjoying 15 years at the epicenter of popular music culture. Story collaborates regularly with composer/producer/DJ Carlos Niño as co-founder of the breakthrough experimental production team The Life Force Trio and has toured, performed and/or recorded with Sa-Ra, Quadron, Madlib’s Yesterday’s New Quintet, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Dwight Trible, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Mocky, Sam Barsh, Steve Spacek, The Long Lost (Daedelus’ and Laura Darling’s duet), Build An Ark, Rumer Willis, Kamasi Washington, Gaslamp Killer, Nick Rosen, Kelis, and Les Nubians among others. He released his debut spiritual soul album “Seasons” in February 2013 on Kindred Spirits featuring a who’s-who of underground and international talent and is readying the release of his East African-influenced album "Wondem" on Soundway Records in October 2015. His latest and most notable endeavors are music directing this Summer’s stellar Wattstax Revisited concert at Grand Performances and arranging for Todd Simon’s Ethio Cali ensemble. Story also works as Community Outreach Liaison at the Ford Theatres Foundation in Los Angeles. He currently lives in Los Angeles and can be reached at thelifeforcetrio(@)gmail(.)com. See calendar for tour and news updates.

Instruments

• Cymbals
• Drums
• Vocals
• Synthesizer
• Tamborine

Genres

• Jazz
• Electronic
• R&B/Soul
• Folk
• World

Plays With