Reed Mathis
Encyclopedia
Reed Mathis is an American
composer
, record producer
, and multi-instrumentalist
from Tulsa
, Oklahoma
. He is highly regarded for his innovative use of effected bass as well as his stylistic versatility. He records and tours with Tea Leaf Green
, the Marco Benevento Trio
, amongst other artists, and was a founding member of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
, a group he co-led for fifteen years.
when he was four years old. Before picking up the bass guitar at eleven, he spent time studying piano
, cello
, and voice
. His early influences included Beethoven, The Beach Boys
, Led Zeppelin
, Cliff Burton
of Metallica
, Michael Jackson
, and Jimi Hendrix
.
When Mathis was fifteen he performed Vivaldi's "Mandolin Concerto in D" on mandolin
with members of the Tulsa Philharmonic
. At sixteen he attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts
near Traverse City, Michigan
, where he was the top-ranked bassist in the program. While at the academy he developed a love of jazz music, and began transcribing and memorizing the music of Charlie Parker
, John Coltrane
, Charles Mingus
, Thelonious Monk
, Miles Davis
, Duke Ellington
, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
, and bass virtuoso, Jaco Pastorius
.
In 1994, Mathis met Brian Haas and a group of like-minded Tulsa musicians, who together created the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (JFJO). Originally an octet
, the band toured six years before becoming the piano-bass-drums trio for which it became known. Mathis continued to tour and record with JFJO through 2008.
In a feature article in Bass Player
in September, 2002, noted music author Bill Milkowski writes:
"No other electric bass player around today has been as successful (as Mathis) at incorporating mind-blowing and mondo-effects into a personal voice on the instrument. The charismatic Mathis is freed up to soar into the high register and wail with impunity on his heavy effected bass guitar because Haas is holding down the basslines on the Rhodes."
In 2005-2006, Mathis toured with the Steve Kimock Band
, which featured Steve Kimock on guitar and lap steel guitar
, Robert Walter
on Hammond B3 organ and Rhodes piano, and Rodney Holmes on drums.
In 2006, Mathis united with pianist Marco Benevento
and drummers Matt Chamberlain
and Andrew Barr
to form the Marco Benevento Trio. He has appeared on three releases with the Marco Benevento Trio and continues to tour with the group. The trio appeared at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall
in June, 2009.
In late 2007, Mathis joined the San Francisco rock band Tea Leaf Green
(TLG). In 2008, he split time between TLG and JFJO. He appears on the Tea Leaf Green's 2008 release Raise Up The Tent
and tours as a member of the band.
In 2008, Mathis produced Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey's "Winterwood" (named for Winterwood Studios in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
). Shortly before the album's release in January, 2009, Mathis announced his departure from JFJO, citing a desire to pursue his other musical endeavors. Chris Combs (guitar) and Matt Hayes (upright bass) joined Haas (piano) and Josh Raymer (drums) to form the new JFJO lineup.
In 2009 Mathis became an original member of 7 Walkers
, a band led by Grateful Dead
drummer Bill Kreutzmann
. He recorded on their self titled debut album that was released on November 2, 2010. He left the band in 2010 due to touring commitments with Tea Leaf Green and was replaced by George Porter Jr..
It was announced that he will join the Rhythm Devils
for their 2011 tour.
(*produced by Mathis)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
from Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He is highly regarded for his innovative use of effected bass as well as his stylistic versatility. He records and tours with Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green is a five-piece jam band from San Francisco Bay Area, comprising Josh Clark , Trevor Garrod , Reed Mathis , Scott Rager , and Cochrane McMillan .-History:Tea Leaf Green began in the fall of 1996, when Scott Rager met Ben Chambers on the...
, the Marco Benevento Trio
Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento is a pianist, organist and composer from Brooklyn, New York. Benevento is known for his effected piano work with his trio as well as his Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer Electric Piano work with the Benevento Russo Duo...
, amongst other artists, and was a founding member of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is a USA jazz group started in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1994. The band's lineup has changed multiple times over the years. The group first formed under the moniker "Pimp Cocktail" with founding member Brian Haas as well as Sean Layton, Dove McHargue, Matt Leland, & Kyle Wright...
, a group he co-led for fifteen years.
Biography
Mathis comes from a prolific musical family and started learning the fundamentals of classical musicClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
when he was four years old. Before picking up the bass guitar at eleven, he spent time studying piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, and voice
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. His early influences included Beethoven, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
When Mathis was fifteen he performed Vivaldi's "Mandolin Concerto in D" on mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
with members of the Tulsa Philharmonic
Tulsa Philharmonic
The Tulsa Philharmonic was an American symphony orchestra located in Tulsa, OK. The orchestra was founded in 1948 by H. Arthur Brown who was principal conductor from 1948 till 1958. The orchestra played for 53 seasons...
. At sixteen he attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City...
near Traverse City, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where he was the top-ranked bassist in the program. While at the academy he developed a love of jazz music, and began transcribing and memorizing the music of Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
, John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
, Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
The Hot Five was Louis Armstrong's first jazz recording band led under his own name.It was a typical New Orleans jazz band in instrumentation, consisting of trumpet, clarinet, and trombone backed by a rhythm section...
, and bass virtuoso, Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
.
In 1994, Mathis met Brian Haas and a group of like-minded Tulsa musicians, who together created the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (JFJO). Originally an octet
Octet
-Music:* Octet , ensemble consisting of eight instruments or voices, or composition written for such an ensemble* Octet , 1793 composition by Ludwig van Beethoven* Octet , 1825 composition by Felix Mendelssohn...
, the band toured six years before becoming the piano-bass-drums trio for which it became known. Mathis continued to tour and record with JFJO through 2008.
In a feature article in Bass Player
Bass Player (magazine)
Bass Player is a popular magazine for bassists. Each issue offers a variety of artist interviews, lessons, equipment reviews, and a complete transcribed bass line from a popular song...
in September, 2002, noted music author Bill Milkowski writes:
"No other electric bass player around today has been as successful (as Mathis) at incorporating mind-blowing and mondo-effects into a personal voice on the instrument. The charismatic Mathis is freed up to soar into the high register and wail with impunity on his heavy effected bass guitar because Haas is holding down the basslines on the Rhodes."
In 2005-2006, Mathis toured with the Steve Kimock Band
Steve Kimock
-External links:** at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at Internet Archive's live music archive*, San Francisco, April 3, 1999*, Unofficial Fan Forum...
, which featured Steve Kimock on guitar and lap steel guitar
Lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
, Robert Walter
Robert Walter
Robert John Walter MP , is the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Dorset in south west England. He was re-elected for a fourth term in 2010 with a much increased majority.-Early life:...
on Hammond B3 organ and Rhodes piano, and Rodney Holmes on drums.
In 2006, Mathis united with pianist Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento is a pianist, organist and composer from Brooklyn, New York. Benevento is known for his effected piano work with his trio as well as his Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer Electric Piano work with the Benevento Russo Duo...
and drummers Matt Chamberlain
Matt Chamberlain
Matthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
and Andrew Barr
Andrew Barr
Andrew Barr is an Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. He has been an Australian Labor Party member for the seat of Molonglo in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 5 April 2006, after being elected on a countback to replace...
to form the Marco Benevento Trio. He has appeared on three releases with the Marco Benevento Trio and continues to tour with the group. The trio appeared at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in June, 2009.
In late 2007, Mathis joined the San Francisco rock band Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green is a five-piece jam band from San Francisco Bay Area, comprising Josh Clark , Trevor Garrod , Reed Mathis , Scott Rager , and Cochrane McMillan .-History:Tea Leaf Green began in the fall of 1996, when Scott Rager met Ben Chambers on the...
(TLG). In 2008, he split time between TLG and JFJO. He appears on the Tea Leaf Green's 2008 release Raise Up The Tent
Raise Up the Tent
Raise Up the Tent is the fifth studio album by Tea Leaf Green. It was released on July 22, 2008 by Surfdog Records. It was produced by Camper Van Beethoven founder and Cracker cofounder, David Lowery.-Track listing:# "Let Us Go" - 3:31...
and tours as a member of the band.
In 2008, Mathis produced Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey's "Winterwood" (named for Winterwood Studios in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a city in Carroll County, Arkansas, United States. Along with Berryville, it is one of the two county seats for the county. It is located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 2,350...
). Shortly before the album's release in January, 2009, Mathis announced his departure from JFJO, citing a desire to pursue his other musical endeavors. Chris Combs (guitar) and Matt Hayes (upright bass) joined Haas (piano) and Josh Raymer (drums) to form the new JFJO lineup.
In 2009 Mathis became an original member of 7 Walkers
7 Walkers
7 Walkers are an American rock band featuring former Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and guitarist Papa Mali-History:The band formed in 2009 out of informal collaborations between Bill Kreutzmann and Papa Mali. Kreutzmann had been featured as a special guest at several of Mali's concerts...
, a band led by Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
drummer Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
. He recorded on their self titled debut album that was released on November 2, 2010. He left the band in 2010 due to touring commitments with Tea Leaf Green and was replaced by George Porter Jr..
It was announced that he will join the Rhythm Devils
Rhythm Devils
The Rhythm Devils are a band led by founding Grateful Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.-Grateful Dead:The Rhythm Devils had their origins as an informal but frequent fixture in the Grateful Dead concert repertoire...
for their 2011 tour.
With Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
- Live at the Lincoln Continental (1995)
- Live in Tokyo (1996)
- Welcome Home (1998)
- Bloom (1999)
- Live At Your Mama's House (2000)
- Self Is Gone (2001)*
- All is One (2002)*
- Sean Layton: A Musical Retrospective (2002)*
- Slow Breath, Silent Mind (2003)*
- Symbiosis Osmosis (2003)*
- Walking With Giants (2004)*
- For The Ghost EP (2005)*
- Sameness of Difference (2005)
- Tomorrow We'll Know Today (2006)*
- Lil' Tae Rides Again (2008)
- Winterwood (2009)*
(*produced by Mathis)
With Tea Leaf Green
- Raise Up The TentRaise Up the TentRaise Up the Tent is the fifth studio album by Tea Leaf Green. It was released on July 22, 2008 by Surfdog Records. It was produced by Camper Van Beethoven founder and Cracker cofounder, David Lowery.-Track listing:# "Let Us Go" - 3:31...
(2008) - Looking West (2010)
- Radio Tragedy! (2011)
With Marco Benevento
- Live at TonicLive at Tonic (Marco Benevento)Live At Tonic is an album by keyboardist Marco Benevento.Benevento invited his old friend Andy Hurwitz along to document the proceedings. Alternating between group and solo performance, Benevento played two sets a night and was joined by a different cast of musical co-conspirators for each show...
(2007) - Invisible BabyInvisible BabyInvisible Baby is the first solo studio album by New York keyboardist Marco Benevento.- Musicians :* Marco Benevento - piano, mellotron, circuit bent toys, keyboards* Reed Mathis - bass...
(2008) - Me Not MeMe Not MeMe Not Me is the second solo studio album by keyboardist Marco Benevento of Brooklyn, New York, released in 2009. It consists mostly of covers -- hence the title -- along with three original tracks.-Track listing:# "Golden"...
(2009)
With other artists
- Blue Alleluia (2002) Jared TylerJared TylerJared Tyler, Tulsa Oklahoma, is an American singer-songwriter. He made his national debut with the release of Blue Alleluia, an album produced by Russ Titelman on Walking Liberty Records, NYC....
- Here With You (2009)
- El Niño Chickendog (1997) Steve Pryor
- The Neighbors (1999)
- Life's Ladder (2006)
- The Separation DVD (2007) Bobby PreviteBobby PreviteRobert "Bobby" Previte is a drummer, composer and bandleader. Previte earned a B.A. in Economics at the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979, and became active in the city's thriving jazz and experimental music scenes...
- Sage Flower Arrow (2008)
In Print
Interview in "Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius, Anniversary Edition," by Bill Milkowski.External links
- Reed Mathis at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Tea Leaf Green - official site