Derrick ‘The Maestro’ Carter caught the house bug in the ’80s, growing up during Chicago’s fertile warehouse explosion. After honing his skills in his bedroom, he soon got behind the decks at local spots like Shelter, Foxy’s, and Smart Bar. But it was his releases on label’s like Cajual, Classic and Organico that found him a wider audience, as Europe began to take interest in Chicago’s re-emerging wave of electronic producers and DJs. Several singles of chunky house tracks followed, shot through with Derrick Carter’s trademark jazzy atmospheres and meandering narratives. Known for deftly throwing down a killer selection at the drop of a hat, Carter is a music lover through and through, whether forming his live group Sound Patrol Orchestra or crafting out there dub remixes of Chicago’s post-rock quintet Tortoise. Devoutly underground, Carter has dedicated himself to creating golden dancefloor vibes, as anyone who has been caught in the warm glow of one of his dark and soulful sets will testify.