Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Dallas.
Hi Greg, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started playing guitar when I was about 11 years old, after failed attempts to take up the violin and join the percussion section in the 6th-grade band. My parents were skeptical when I asked to take guitar lessons after leaving two musical pursuits, but I immediately fell in love with it and haven’t stopped since. Like many young guitarists, I was inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, and all the other rock and blues legends. I slowly gravitated towards jazz during high school after discovering the music of Pat Metheny and John Coltrane. It was during a Pat Metheny concert at the Touhill Performing Arts Center that I decided I wanted to pursue music professionally! I had many notable teachers/mentors early on, including Tom Byrne, Bill Franco, Andy Ament, and Anthony Wiggins. My high school teachers were Kim Shelley, Alice Fasman, Charles Blackmore, Jennifer Shenberger, and Michael Kanaan.
After high school, I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and earned a bachelor’s degree in performance for guitar. Berklee provided a diverse and talented community of musicians that contributed greatly to my musical growth. Studying with some of the world’s best musicians and teachers was incredible. A few professors that stood out were Sheryl Bailey, Tim Miller, and David Tronzo. After graduating, I decided to move to New York City because I wanted to be in another environment where I would have no choice but to learn and grow. NYC was a natural choice because it has the world’s largest and most thriving jazz community.
I moved back to my hometown of St. Louis at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic after spending 3 years in NYC. When I moved back home, I also started songwriting, painting, and making electronic/experimental music.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
I developed tendonitis in my left arm a few years into my time at Berklee. Ultimately I had to take two semesters off. It was a difficult time, but it was a wake-up call to practice smarter and improve my technique. I changed my approach to the instrument to not exacerbate the tendonitis, which has helped me develop a personal style. When I moved back home, I had little motivation to play guitar/jazz because I didn’t have a community to contribute to (yet), so I turned inward. I spent most of my time painting, hardly touching my guitar for about a year. I needed a break from the guitar. Turning my focus elsewhere helped me to have a greater appreciation for music and art in general, but when I found a community of musicians to be a part of, my drive to play guitar returned! Once things started to open up again, I decided that staying in STL, where I was becoming a part of a talented and growing musical/artistic community, was the best option.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Something important I learned about myself throughout the past few years is I can’t do just one thing, or I’ll go crazy. I tried doing just one thing for many years (jazz guitar), which almost destroyed my interest in music. Once I started to paint, make electronic music, write and record my songs, and play guitar in contexts outside of jazz, I regained the joy I find in music. Right now, I’m most specialized as a jazz guitarist. I enjoy my creative expression in that realm and the level of freedom it provides. I also like producing music in my home studio for the same reason.
I’m least specialized as a painter, but painting taught me how to disconnect my ego from my art. I advise any artist who feels discouraged or like they are losing joy in their work to pick up another art form they know very little about. When you know nothing, there is less pressure to create something “good,” so it trains your brain not to care! Judgment kills art, so you must teach yourself to stop judging your work.
I have several art projects in the works and play in a few bands around town. A few singles will be released under my name in the coming months. If you’re wondering about the style, think of a combination between Pink Floyd and Radiohead. I am also composing new music for the guitar trio and larger jazz ensembles. You can catch me playing around town with The Buttery Biscuit Band, BENJAMIN, Eldraco + Free Nation, and many spontaneously formed jazz ensembles. I’m a regular at Cigar Inn, The Dark Room, and Evangeline’s, to name a few!
Before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
I can play guitar in just about any context, so if your band is looking for someone, I’m your guy! I also offer guitar lessons. You can support me by commissioning art, taking lessons, or just checking out my music on any streaming platform/buying it on Bandcamp!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gregdallas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregdallasgregdallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregdallasmusic
- Other: https://gregdallas.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Gaya Feldheim Schorr (Personal Photo)
