Derek Frank
Bass
Derek Frank has shared the stage with such icons as Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, and Shakira (among many others) as a sideman bassist. In the downtime on these gigs, he discovered a private music world inspired by the cultural debris of his 1970s childhood.
Years ago, the bassist-composer began to write the kind of music he used to hear on 1970s TV and movies. Today, Derek is leaning into the solo artist side of his career with his third solo album, Origin Story, released March 25, 2024 on all streaming platforms with a 2-disc vinyl version plus bonus live tracks available in May. Origin Story boasts Derek’s strongest instrumental jazz-funk compositions to date.
“I used to love the music in Dirty Harry movies, and in the Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk television series,” the LA-based artist says. “When I finally found my voice as a solo artist, I decided to make that kind of music along with jazz and funk as the main influences.”
Derek and his handpicked five (sometimes seven)-piece band blend funk, blues, soul, jazz, southern rock, and seventies soundtrack music into a genre all their own. Derek’s compositions feature tight arrangements, slinky grooves, telepathic band interplay, and restrained virtuosity where chops are implied but not flaunted.
His solo work has garnered critical acclaim from such taste-making outlets as Bass Magazine, American Songwriter Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, Music Connection Magazine, “Everyone Loves Guitar Podcast,” and “The Bass Shed Podcast”. He’s earned favorable comparisons to Lettuce, Vulfpeck, Cory Wong, Snarky Puppy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Karl Denson (who guests on Origin Story), and John Scofield. Previously, Derek has released Let The Games Begin (2009), and the aptly-titled Eleven Years Later (2020).
Derek has fond memories of growing up in Pittsburgh, watching 1970s TV and movies, and 1980s MTV. He discovered his love for the bass when he first picked one up off the wall of a music store while he was waiting for a guitar lesson. Derek later formally studied bass, and eventually moved to Los Angeles to be a professional musician.
Since then, Derek has emerged one of the most in demand touring and studio bassists in Los Angeles. He has worked with a “who’s-who” of A-list artists, including the aforementioned Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson, Air Supply, Aly & AJ, Victoria Justice, Dancing With the Stars, Daniel Powter, Palaye Royale, Mindi Abair, The Boneshakers, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, and countless others.
Derek’s handpicked quintet features guitarist Joshua Ray Gooch (Derek’s longtime bandmate with Shania Twain), keyboardist Carey Frank (Social Distortion, Tedeschi Trucks Band), drummer Randy Cooke (Smashmouth, Brit Floyd), and percussionist Demian Arriaga (Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers). Also joining the party is keyboardist Matt Rohde (Jane’s Addiction, The Chicks), guitarist Anthony King (Buffy Sainte-Marie), The Fat City Horns, and guitarist Brent Mason, widely-regarded as one to the top 10 session guitarists of all time.
