• Comment: Needs
  WP:UPE notices DlohCierekim (talk)
  15:53, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

Dexter Story is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, music director and producer based in Los Angeles, signed to Soundway Records. He is currently a first-year M.A. student in UCLA’s African Studies department, and is targeting his Ph.D in Ethnomusicology / World Art and Cultures.

History

Story has worked in multiple facets of the music industry, from marketing director at Priority Records and Def Jam Recordings to tenures as Snoop Dogg’s product manager (https://www.revive-music.com/2013/06/05/dexter-story-a-journey-like-few-others-pt-1/) and repping Meshell Ndegeocello. He released a soul jazz album titled “Seasons” in 2013 on the label Kindred Spirits, and then made his debut on Soundway Records with the East African-inspired “Wondem” album in 2015 (http://soundwayrecords.com/buy/wondem-1/). This was closely followed by the single “Wejene Aola” featuring jazz musician Kamasi Washington (http://soundwayrecords.com/buy/wejene-aola-0/). His next album, "Bahir" is to be released March 15th 2019 (https://dexterstory.bandcamp.com/album/bahir).

Musical Style

Story's early inspiration came from the music and culture he experienced from his travels around the Horn of Africa. His album, Wondem, explores the music of Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia and Kenya, and fuses aspects of jazz, soul and funk (https://dexterstory.bandcamp.com/album/wondem-2). His most recent album, Bahir, includes collaborations with Sudan Archives, Haile Supreme and Jimetta Rose, and fuses contemporary jazz and soul with Ethiopian tonalities, Ethio-groove, eskista, gurage, North Sudanese shaygiya dance rhythms, Afro-funk and Somali soul.

Discography

Category:Music