Producer/Bassist Derrick Graves

Derrick was born a native Philadelphian during the time when music was considered to be at its renaissance period. By this, I mean the time when the be-bop period was so-called ending, and the onset of a new decade of experimental types of music began. Derrick’s teacher was the bassist music legend Stanley Clarke. Derrick began to play and record with many different musicians. Some of which were, Kevin Eubanks (Jay Leno’s music director) and saxophonist George Howard. Most recently his production company “Mastermind” has played host to such artists as “Eve” ,“As Yet” ,”Mae Ali”, and “Janice McClain”, just to name a few. Current projects he has recently worked on are Viki Wallace (Euro Dance / House), Rodney Mansfield (R&B / Smooth Jazz) , a hip hop rap/vocal duo called Common Thread, Helen Brunner, “The David Joel Quartet” and a young lady rapper/spoken word artist named Jalimaah. Today, Derrick states “I would describe my involvement with the music business as trying to keep up with the new wave of technology that continues to make the task of production & distribution of product easier and more economical. Over the past few years, I've tried to immerse myself in situations which enable me to keep up to date with the recording, producing, & engineering side of the industry, as well as maintain my ability to play my axe, and perform my own music”.