Born in Santa Monica, CA, guitarist Graham Dechter began his study of music at the age of 5 when he started taking violin lessons and composing orchestral pieces. He discovered his passion for guitar and jazz at Idyllwild Arts Academy, the prestigious residential arts high school. Upon graduation, Graham entered the Jazz Studies program at the Eastman School of Music. In 2005, after completing a year at Eastman, Graham moved back to Los Angeles after being invited by Jeff Hamilton to join the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO). He was 19 at the time and became the youngest member of the acclaimed orchestra. He has toured extensively in the United States and Europe with CHJO and has performed with some of the most respected names in jazz including Bill Charlap, Kurt Elling, John Faddis, Benny Golson, Wycliffe Gordon, Benny Green, Jon Hendricks, Wynton Marsalis, Les McCann, James Moody, Marlena Shaw, Terell Stafford, Clark Terry, Peter Washington, Nancy Wilson and Snooky Young.