Dez
About
I'm a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and educator whose career defies easy genre classification. My roots stretch back to the mid-90s, when I started on blues harmonica, improvising alongside my dad as a pre-teen. That foundation in raw, intuitive musicianship set the stage for a lifetime of exploration.
From the technical demands of progressive metal guitar in high school to the raw aggression of hardcore bands—and later, deep dives into rock and roll, bluegrass, and black metal—I've absorbed every influence to forge my own musical identity. As a seasoned writer and performer, I bring the depth of a lifelong musician to every project.
These days, I split my time between producing my solo music and playing bass in a metal band, dedicated to both creating and cultivating sound. My body of work—spanning decades of detours and discovery—is available now on all major platforms.
Teaching Style
My teaching style combines feeling with theory. Being that I started as an improvisational musician I love to incorporate this into my teaching. Theory is a must as well but not daunting boring theory. I teach what I believe is needed to get you started on your own journey into the music that you specifically want to play.
Credentials & Affiliations
My journey into music began in 1994 with a harmonica and a deep dive into the blues. Through tedious and intentional listening to the greats, I taught myself not just their styles but the fundamental language that underpins so much of American music. This foundation was immediately put into practice from 1995 to 1997, playing in a blues improvisational band with my father on bass for special events in our small Monterey County town. I then joined my middle school's "blues band," where I expanded into singing and playing modern music and oldies, an experience that even landed us a feature in the local newspaper in 1998.
In 1999, my focus shifted to the guitar. I took formal lessons throughout high school, a period that saw me playing in numerous bands and exploring genres from metal and progressive guitar to hardcore. I played countless shows, becoming a fixture in the local scene as a member of The Sky Is A Wall, the house band for our local venue, and later co-founding Moria, a band that continues to exist today. After graduating in 2003, I took my ambitions south to Riverside County, guesting with a friend's hardcore band for a show at the legendary Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood, sharing a bill with one of our heroes, Converge. The following year, I collaborated with my best friend to write and produce our full-length album, A March Of Hearts.
My formal education in music deepened in 2006 when I studied jazz history and development with acclaimed saxophonist Jason Robinson at San Diego City College. This academic perspective enriched my practical work, which soon led me back to my first love, the blues. In 2007, I joined the blues rock band Roxy Blue and The Handful as their lead guitarist, a role that took us all around San Diego and included two performances at the Gator By The Bay Blues Festival. This period was also marked by extensive work as a side musician and bandleader. I formed my own solo group, composing all the material, and served as lead guitarist for singer-songwriter Sheila Sondergard, performing at prestigious San Diego venues like Anthology (now The Music Box) and Humphrey's by the Bay. Between 2010 and 2012, I began sharing my knowledge directly, teaching private harmonica and guitar lessons.
My career has been defined by a restless creativity and a love for diverse genres. After my time in San Diego, I fronted a metal band as a singer and guitarist, and then pivoted to a completely different challenge: a two-piece old-timey bluegrass band called Sam Hell. From 2016 to 2019, I performed with the band playing guitar, harmonica, bones, spoons, a suitcase kick drum, and singing. Through all these experiences, I have continuously honed my skills as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, and producer. This lifelong dedication has culminated in the release of my solo full-length album, available on all major streaming platforms, and I remain actively engaged in releasing new music both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others.