A self-taught musician, John Dean has been playing, composing, and recording for nearly twenty years. Following work as a session musician soon after high school, John studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Notre Dame while playing in the Marching Band (snare drum), Jazz Bands (woodwinds), and Symphonic Winds (piano and percussion).

John has shared the stage with a number of notable performers over the years, including Chicago, Jeff Clayton, Wycliffe Gordon, Marion Hayden, and Todd Rundgren. His recording credits include a Christmas album with ten-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. John’s work in film scoring runs the gamut — from modern-minimalist to full orchestral compositions — and he has collaborated on multiple submissions to both Sundance and Cannes.

In addition to playing keyboards (and occasionally guitar) with Tucson Little Big Band, John directs the Oro Valley Jazz Band, plays saxophone with Desert Chameleon Community Band, and plays keyboards and guitar with the Marana Big Phat Band.