Dexter Story’s spiritual and uplifting track “Eastern Prayer” (from the album “Wondem”) featuring vocalist Nia Andrews, is given a house rework by Detroit’s own Peter Croce. Croce is a deejay, producer, musician, and founder of the eclectic and boutique label/party Rocksteady Disco. The single release on September 14 is a lead up to Story’s new Soundway Records album release in Fall 2018.
https://dexterstory.bandcamp.com/track/eastern-prayer-feat-nia-andrews-peter-croce-remix
Dexter Story & Wondem band perform a live set at Beat Tropíc in Ojai on Sunday, August 26, 2018 along with Mark “DJ Frosty” McNeil of Dublab.
Beat Tropíc
Co-presented by dublab
Sunday August 26th from 1-7pm, poolside at Ojai Rancho Inn *no cover*
w/ DJs Earthtones & John Ramar
& guest DJ Frosty
An afternoon of Ethiopian + East African
Jazz, Soul, Funk & Folk Rhythms
Commentary: What a pleasure it was performing the music of Dr. Mulatu Astatke and other Ethiopian luminaries live in such a peaceful setting. Much love and respect to the musicians Brandon, Carlos, Justin and Kibrom, Serge and his colleagues, Frosty, and everyone who came out. I don’t take your support for granted. Thank you. Ameseganelehu.
Dexter Story directs and performs with Armenian musicians in a curated show that celebrates the musical connection between Ethiopia and Armenia on Sunday, August 12, 2018.
Vardan Ovsepian – piano
Artyom Manukyan – cello
Andranig Kzirian – oud
Dexter Story – percussion, aux instruments, lecture
Join composer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dexter Storyon a journey through Near Eastern and African music.
Informed by his current ethnographic research at UCLA, Story has assembled a first-rate group of Armenian and Ethiopian musicians to explore the theme of nostalgia, also known as tezeta in Ethiopia’s national language Amharic. For this riveting performance, the musicians will celebrate the poignant and historic relationship between these two ancient cultures. Their repertoire includes both compositions and improvisational works that explore loss, displacement, migration, community, reclamation, dignity, and release.
Sunday, August 12, 12:00 and 2:00pm
Two identical sets with lecture, questions and answers.
https://www.skirball.org/programs/family-amphitheater-performances/dexter-story-presents-tezeta-west
Dexter Story music-directs and co-produces Higher! The Psychedelic Soul and Genius of Sly and The Family Stone on Friday, June 1 at Grand Performances. The tribute features a who’s who of talent celebrating the timeless music classics from the expansive mind of Sylvester Stewart.
Commentary: Thank you to everyone who attended this show on June 1. I appreciate you very much. Sly’s songs are the most intensely beautiful I’ve ever arranged. They play themselves but are not to be underestimated. This is gospel, funk, blues, rock, soul, and folk at its finest. I am grateful.
Dexter Story plays drums for Mark de Clive-Lowe Presents The Creator Has A Master Plan live in Oakland at Spirithaus Gallery on March 3, 2018.
Mark de Clive-Lowe Presents The Creator Has A Master Plan
Featuring
Teodross Avery
Dwight Trible
Carlos Niño
Brandon Owens
Dexter Story
March 3, 2018
Spirithaus Gallery
2217 Adeline Street
West Oakland, CA
8pm and 10:30pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mark-de-clive-lowe-the-creator-has-a-master-plan-tickets-42807608710
Dexter Story and his East Africa-inspired band Wondem perform opening set at the Echoplex in support of Ayalew Mesfin’s Los Angeles debut on February 13. Mesfin’s band will be the acclaimed group Debo Band from Boston.
1822 W. Sunset Blvd
The Echoplex is located below The Echo, enter through the alley at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90026
8pm
https://www.ticketfly.com/event/1625818-return-ayalew-mesfin-debo-los-angeles/
Dexter Story music directs an all-star band for the New Year’s Eve festivities at Grand Park on Sunday, December 31.
What’s up Los Angeles? Dance your heart out and into 2018 with best friends, sweeties, friendly neighbors, and those cousins from out-of-town at the West Coast’s flagship New Year’s Eve celebration. Grand Park and The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. is the place to dream together and welcome new beginnings with a countdown on City Hall, live music, food, and photo booths in one big, beautiful, colorful Angeleno experience to remember! #NYELA
The event begins at 8pm on December 31, 2017 and ends at 1am on January 1, 2018.
Grand Park + The Music Center:
200 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90012
This is a free event. There’s no cost to attend.
Can’t make it to N.Y.E.L.A.? Watch the biggest New Years Eve celebration on the West Coast on Facebook Live starting at 8pm on New Years Eve. A six man camera crew 🎥 will be capturing the whole night leading up to the big countdown to 2018.
Watch the live countdown to 2018.
Commentary: I am grateful to Grand Park and The Music Center for allowing me to bring an all-star band to Grand Park for their New Year’s Eve festivities this year.
Acclaimed musician, producer, live remixer and composer Mark de Clive-Lowe teams up with multi-hyphenate musician Dexter Story to bring you a special live set of reworked music from the latter’s two recent album “Seasons” and “Wondem”.
Dexter Story – Vocals, Keys, Guitar
Mark de Clive-Lowe – Keys, Programming, Production
Esinam Dogbatse – Flute, Vocals, Percussion
Andrea Lo – Bass Guitar
Dexter Story plays drum set with acclaimed flutist Nicole Mitchell and her ensemble on October 26, 2017 at Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, CA.
Presented by UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts and Irvine Barclay Theatre
Active since 2003, the Michael Dessen Trio has been praised by critics for its unique blend of intricate composition, open improvisation and live electronics. With three releases on Clean Feed Records and a fourth coming in 2017, the band is especially known for their immersive, continuous live sets and for recordings produced with the same spirit. This performance will premiere new works designed to feature renowned guests Nicole Mitchell (flute) and Joshua White (piano).
The west coast premiere of When Life’s Door Opens is a multi-movement work by creative flutist/composer Nicole Mitchell, written for a chamber ensemble and three vocalists from contrasting improvisational traditions. The creative libretto for When Life’s Door Opens is based on a long-form poem of the same name, also by Nicole Mitchell. Mitchell has been recognized as “Top Flutist of the Year” by DownBeat Critics Poll for six years in a row (2010-2016).
Part of the Distinguished Artist Series
Tickets:
Adults $30
Students & Children (under 17) $14
http://www.arts.uci.edu/event/michael-dessen-nicole-mitchell
Dexter Story performs drum set with Adam Rudolph’s Go:Organic Orchestra live at RedCat Theatre on October 7, 2017. The evening is billed as Moving Pictures + Go:Organic Orchestra.
Go: Organic Orchestra
Go: Organic Orchestra is a 21st century vision of a “future orchestra”. Artistic director Adam Rudolph’s prototypical approach to composing and improvisational conducting embraces music forms and cosmologies from around the world.
Using a non-linear score with his unique approach to rhythm as the seed material, Rudolph improvisationally conducts the musicians in concert. This creates spontaneous orchestrations which serve as both context and inspiration for the musicians improvisational dialogue.
Over the past two decades Rudolph has taught and conducted hundreds of musicians in the Go: Organic Orchestra concept in throughout North America and Europe.
The multicultural dynamic of Go: Organic Orchestra itself expresses a creative vision of our shared humanity. It is a realization of creative community in a world without boundaries; of culture as the vessel for understanding, empathy and sharing.
Fawntice Finesse – flutes
Thomas Stones – flutes
Damon Banks– el. bass
Kenny Wessel– el. guitar, banjo
Alexis Marcelo – fender rhodes, piano
Randy Gloss – gongs, frame drums, percussion
Munyungo Jackson – congas, percussion
Hamid Drake – drum set, percussion
Dexter Story – drum set, percussions
Carlos NiÑo – coloristic percussion
Gustavo Bulgach – B flat clarinet
Pablo Calogero – bass clarinet, Tibetan trumpet
Ralph M. Jones – flutes, bass clarinet, soprano and tenor sax
Charles Sharp – contra bass and B flat clarinets
Michael Birnbryer – clarinet, bass clarinet
Myka Miller – oboe, english horn
Tara Speiser – bassoon
Graham Haynes – cornet, flugelhorn
Ronit Kirchman – el. violin
Emily Hay – flutes
Ellen Burr – flutes
Dexter Story and Mark de Clive-Lowe team up for a live remix of Dexter Story’s past music releases on Saturday, October 7 at Eagle Rock Music Festival. de Clive-Lowe will take the stage interpretations by the band and process them to create something new and exciting.
Dexter Story teams with Rocio Contreras, Tafarai Bayne and Community Coalition staff to co-produce the 6th Annual South LA Power Fest on Saturday, September 2 at Martin Luther King Jr. park.
Join us for the 6th Annual South LA Power Fest on September 2, 2017. Power Fest is the premier political music festival in South LA that attracts thousands of families in a day of celebration, empowerment, and education.
Come enjoy great music, art installations, good food, health resources, and special activities for kids! You’re not going to want to miss this amazing, FREE event.
This year’s Power Fest will bring South LA communities together to reclaim space, celebrate our successes, and build momentum for upcoming campaigns.
RSVP at our website: http://SouthLAPowerfest.com/
LIVE PERFORMANCES BY:
Ro James
Ill Camille
La Chamba
Rae Khalil
Subsuelo
Changui Majadero
Al Jackson
DJ WORDAMOUPH
SPECIAL GUEST TO BE ANNOUNCED!!!
FEATURING INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING starting at 12PM in our Together We Rise LA and Empowerment Tents and our Kids Zone!
RSVP at our website: http://SouthLAPowerfest.com/
Offical Hashtags:
#SouthLAPowerFest
#ReImagineJustice
Dexter Story’s Wondem band performs live in Glendale at The Open Arts & Music Festival on September 17 at 5pm. The band will play music from the 2015 Wondem release as well as new material from the upcoming Soundway album.
DESCRIPTION
Dexter Story celebrates the release of director Lake Bell’s “I Do… Until I Don’t” film on September 1. Story composed the original music score.
Lake Bell’s ‘I Do…Until I Don’t’ Locks Down Labor Day Weekend Opening
Dexter Story 