Dean Magraw and Marcus Wise CD Release

 “These seven songs work like instrumental chants, opening portals to profound new worlds.” – Minnesota Monthly

"...acoustic-guitar wiz Dean Magraw lovingly revisit[s] the inner light he once created with tabla player Marcus Wise in their first album for Red House Records since 1985." (The Best Local Albums of 2010, Star Tribune)

Guitar wizard Dean Magraw and world-renowned tabla player Marcus Wise reunite to release How the Light Gets In, their first duo album on Red House Records since their 1985 album Wise Magraw (the third released on the label). Taken from Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem,” the title How the Light Gets In refers to the imperfection of things and that it is through the cracks that we are able to see light and beauty. What transpires on this record is a mesmerizing musical synergy that captures two musicians letting the silences ring out as they listen to each other and create music in the moment.

A transformative experience for both musicians, the recording of this album came not long after Dean Magraw was diagnosed with MDS and had a bone marrow transplant. Marcus Wise, his friend for over 30 years, saw that he was struggling and suggested they get together to play some music. There was so much magic in that get-together that they decided to go into the studio to finish an old recording which they had never released. But when Dean and Marcus started playing, they discovered that the music they were making was in no way related to their previous work–it was something altogether different. As their musical ideas kept evolving a new CD had come to fruition.

Full of transcendent moments, How the Light Gets In is brimming with positive energy. Whether in quiet tracks like “Jade” or in driving numbers like “Entrainment,” the music is sometimes meditative, sometimes lively but always soulful and original.

Robert Bly, noted poet and long-time collaborator of Dean and Marcus, will make a rare appearance tonight!

 Tickets are on sale now from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), from hard-working Cedar volunteers in the front lobby during shows (no extra fees!), from Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus and Depth of Field), and online at Ticketweb.

All Cedar shows are all ages. Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets purchased at the door.

Dean Magraw

Dean Magraw is a consummate guitarist, playing with wit and soulful abandon. A performer like no other, he is part-comedian, part-philosopher and all-around musical genius. Transcending genre, he has performed with a cornucopia of collaborators from jazz...

Marcus Wise

Marcus Wise is a top-tier tabla player, poetic and genre-bending. An ambassador of Eastern classical music, he makes Indian sounds accessible to American music fans, collaborating with folk, jazz, gospel and pop artists. He has performed and recorded with...