Dean Koba is native of Honolulu, Hawaii. He has performed with numerous jazz greats, which include: Benny Bailey, Bud Shank, Jeff Clayton, John Clayton, Bill Cunliffe, Dee Daniels, Walter Norris, Bob Sheppard, Gary Foster, Fareed Haque, Makoto Ozone, Roberta Gamborini, Jackie

Ryan, and Tamir Hendelman. His tours have taken him all around the United States as well as Europe. He is featured on numerous recordings with artists including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Christoph Luty, the Acoustic Jazz Quartet, The Bayou Brass Band, Brent Jenson and the Greg Reitan trio.  

Dean studied music at Northwestern University (BA) and at USC (MM). He also studied privately with Jeff Hamilton, Joe Labarbera, and Greg Field. Dean currently resides in Cerritos, California and freelances in the greater Los Angeles area. In addition, he has worked for Disneyland for over twenty years. He is also the percussion instructor at Long Beach City College and the jazz drumset instructor at El Camino College. 

Dean Koba plays Aquarian Drum Heads, Crescent Cymbals, Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Hardware and Innovative Percussion sticks
& mallets.