Aaron Graves—Musician/Composer/Arranger/Producer/Conductor also learned to play various instruments including piano, bass, organ, and drums, in the church where his father, a great musician with a musical family, was pastor.
Aaron eventually moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of sixteen to play bass guitar with Richard Smallwood and attended The Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. He later toured with other artists including Myrna Summers, The Voices Supreme, and Henry Davis, ALL BEFORE ENTERING COLLEGE, Howard University where he received a Special Talent Scholarship. After two years study he transferred to the University of the District of Columbia to study with Jazz Master Calvin Jones. While studying at UDC Aaron auditioned for a National Endowment of the Arts grant, was accepted, and studied with Jazz Master Kenny Barron. He has also studied with Jazz Masters Barry Harris and Stanley Cowell. Following his studies, Aaron continued to perform, record and tour with musical royalty including, Stanley Turrentine, Oscar Brown, Jr., Dakota Staton, Houston Person, Ernie Andrews, Marlena Shaw, Linda Hopkins, Cassandra Wilson, Antonio Hart, Greg Osby, Keter Betts, Bill Lee, Grady Tate, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Grover Washington, Jr., Vanessa Rubin, Earl May, The Blackbyrds, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Jann Parker, Donald Byrd, James Moody, Kevin Mahogany, Barbara Montgomery, Jimmy Scott, Maysa, John Hendricks, Al Jarreau and others. To round out his portfolio, Aaron has also played on award winning TV and film scores, as well as musical theater and even a symphonic orchestra.
