Veteran Los Angeles bassist and composer Derek Frank, widely recognized for his work with Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, and Air Supply, will bring his instrumental band back to the NAMM Show on January 24th in Anaheim, CA; The Alibi on March 2nd in Telluride, CO; The Baked Potato on March 27th in Studio City, CA; and the Liberty Bar in Mammoth, CA, on March 28th and 29th. These performances are in support of his highly-praised third album, Origin Story.
Furthermore, on June 7th, the Derek Frank Band will make its debut at GoPro Mountain Games in Vail and the Newpark Summer Concert Series in Park City, UT on August 15th. The bassist, best known for his work touring with pop icons such as the aforementioned Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, Air Supply, Kelly Clarkson, and Shakira (among others), led his band through a run of shows over the summer and fall of 2024, performing across California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Florida. Now, he’s excited to hit the road again.
With a career spanning decades as a sought-after session and touring musician, Derek has stepped into the spotlight to showcase his own artistry. Released in March 2024, Origin Story is a genre-defying blend of jazz, funk, southern rock, and 1970s soundtrack influences. Produced by Grammy-winning producer Jim Scott (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tom Petty, Wilco, Sting) at his all-analog recording studio, the album has earned comparisons to Lettuce, Snarky Puppy, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The tightly, well-crafted offering has been playfully described as a collection of “feisty, punchy and sizzling, blues-fired delights” and “seventies-inspired funky instrumental jams with fewer bass solos than you would expect.”
Origin Story has been gaining momentum, holding a top 30 position on the Relix Magazine/JamBands.com radio charts for four consecutive months. The record features standout contributions from renowned musicians, including Brent Mason on guitar (GRAMMY winner, ACM Guitarist of the Year, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, and CMA Musician of the Year) and Karl Denson on saxophone (legendary jam band saxophonist of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, The Greyboy Allstars and a member of the Rolling Stones touring band).
Derek’s solo work has received widespread critical acclaim from influential outlets such as American Songwriter Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, Music Connection Magazine, “Everyone Loves Guitar Podcast,” and “The Bass Shed Podcast.” Bass Magazine praised Origin Story as “a collection of eight instrumental songs, blending funk, jazz, blues, and seventies soundtrack music into a mix that’s equally at home on jazz radio, on a jam band playlist, or on a throwback cop show sound.” Guitar World Magazine featured Derek in an article titled, “Shania Twain Got Me Into Alternate Tunings. I Use Them a Lot on Gigs Now, and They’ve Seeped Into My Solo Stuff: What Session Bass Supremo Derek Frank Learned From Playing With Pop’s A-Listers – And How He Brings It to His Own Music.”
His discography includes Let the Games Begin (2009) and the aptly titled Eleven Years Later (2020), which features Grammy-winning blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa. The culmination of the albums showcase Derek’s growth as a composer and artist. His accomplishments, such as a Hollywood Independent Music Awards nomination for Best Instrumental Song, underscore his commitment to pushing creative boundaries.
This same passion and artistry are evident in the dynamic sound of the Derek Frank Band, which has drawn favorable comparisons to artists such as Lettuce, Cory Wong, The Motet, The Meters, and John Scofield. Comprised of other oft-lauded musicians, the Derek Frank Band features players who have performed with the likes of: Tedeschi Trucks Band, Social Distortion, Soul Asylum, Tom Morello, and Miley Cyrus, to name a few.
“If you’re into funk and jazz (and even if you’re not), and you enjoy well-written music with funky grooves, you can’t go wrong with these guys.” - Music Connection Magazine
Show Dates & Ticket Information:
NAMM Show – January 24th
Center Stage, Anaheim Convention Center (800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802)
Tickets: NAMM Show Sessions
The Alibi – March 2nd
121 South Fir Street, Telluride, CO 81435
Showtime: 9:00 PM
Tickets: Eventbrite - The Alibi
The Baked Potato – March 27th
3787 Cahuenga Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Showtimes: 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM
Tickets: The Baked Potato
Liberty Bar – March 28th & 29th
3399 Main St, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Showtime: 9:30 PM
Non-Ticketed Show: Liberty Sports Bar and Grill
GoPro Mountain Games 2025 – June 7th
Downtown Vail, CO 81657
Website
Newpark Summer Concert Series – August 15th
Newpark Amphitheater, Park City, UT (1388 Center Dr, Park City, UT 84098)
Non-Ticketed Show: Mountain Town Music
