Tony Reeves
Encyclopedia
Anthony 'Tony' Reeves is an English
bass guitarist/contrabassist, noted for his "extremely prominent and complex bass sound" and use of electronic effects. As a teenager he learned orchestral double bass
and played in local jazz
-oriented groups (also sometimes the Wes Minster Five) with Colfes Grammar School, Lewisham schoolmates, Dave Greenslade
and Jon Hiseman
: Reeves and Hiseman would later record with John Mayall
on the album Bare Wires
and then go on to form Colosseum
.
Keen on jazz, Reeves played in the New Jazz Orchestra
and had learned many standard songs. He worked in the music industry for several years, first in the quality control department of Decca Records
listening to output that ranged from medieval classical music to Chubby Checker
, after four years becoming assistant producer to Tony D'Amato, then briefly a record plugger for Pye Records
. In late 1964 he suggested for Pye release, and played on, the instrumental UK hit Sounds Orchestral
's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind
". He became assistant to Tony Hatch
at Pye before leaving to become a freelance producer for CBS and Polydor and creative director of the Greenwich Gramophone Company. He also recorded with The Mike Taylor Quartet on the album Pendulum in 1965 and with Davy Graham on Folk, Blues and Beyond and Midnight Man in 1966.
Shortly afterwards he took up electric bass, just before Hiseman recommended him to Mayall. After two albums with Colosseum he left to concentrate on session work and production, working with the Woods Band, Sandy Denny
(The North Star Grassman and the Ravens), Paul Kent, John Martyn
(Bless the Weather), Day of Phoenix and Burning Red Ivanhoe from Denmark, and Chris DeBurgh. In 1972 he rejoined Dave Greenslade and formed the band Greenslade
. He remained with the band until 1974, recording three albums with them. Subsequently he played with Curved Air
and then in a long-lasting semipro jazz band called Big Chief, with former Colosseum saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith
. He is still playing with Big Chief, Blue Amba and The Warthogs, and plays double bass at The Constitution pub in Camden Town
(the late Davy Graham's local) every other Tuesday in the Cellar Bar.
Reeves is also head of the British sound technology firm MTR Professional Audio
, in business for almost thirty years.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
bass guitarist/contrabassist, noted for his "extremely prominent and complex bass sound" and use of electronic effects. As a teenager he learned orchestral double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
and played in local jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-oriented groups (also sometimes the Wes Minster Five) with Colfes Grammar School, Lewisham schoolmates, Dave Greenslade
Dave Greenslade
Dave Greenslade is a British keyboards player. He has played in his own eponymous band, Greenslade, and others including Colosseum, If and Chris Farlowe's Thunderbirds....
and Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
: Reeves and Hiseman would later record with John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
on the album Bare Wires
Bare Wires
- Reissue Bonus Tracks :- Personnel :John Mayall's Bluesbreakers* John Mayall – vocals, harmonica, piano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium, guitar* Mick Taylor – lead guitar, Hawaiian guitar* Chris Mercer – tenor, baritone saxophone...
and then go on to form Colosseum
Colosseum (band)
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
.
Keen on jazz, Reeves played in the New Jazz Orchestra
New Jazz Orchestra
- Origins and members :The NJO was the offspring of a popular weekend jazz club which had its home at 'The Green Man' pub on Blackheath SE3, where the 'house' band was the Ian Bird Quintet - Origins and members :The NJO was the offspring of a popular weekend jazz club which had its home at 'The...
and had learned many standard songs. He worked in the music industry for several years, first in the quality control department of Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
listening to output that ranged from medieval classical music to Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
, after four years becoming assistant producer to Tony D'Amato, then briefly a record plugger for Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
. In late 1964 he suggested for Pye release, and played on, the instrumental UK hit Sounds Orchestral
Sounds Orchestral
Sounds Orchestral was a British studio-based easy listening group, assembled by John Schroeder with Johnny Pearson in 1964.-Career:John Schroeder had worked with Johnny Pearson previously over at Oriole Records, producing Johnny Pearson's first solo album. Moving to Pye, Schroeder was quick to...
's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind
Cast Your Fate to the Wind
"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" is an American jazz piece written and originally recorded by Vince Guaraldi, with lyrics later added by Carel Werber. It won a Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition in 1963...
". He became assistant to Tony Hatch
Tony Hatch
Anthony Peter "Tony" Hatch is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer.-Early life and early career:...
at Pye before leaving to become a freelance producer for CBS and Polydor and creative director of the Greenwich Gramophone Company. He also recorded with The Mike Taylor Quartet on the album Pendulum in 1965 and with Davy Graham on Folk, Blues and Beyond and Midnight Man in 1966.
Shortly afterwards he took up electric bass, just before Hiseman recommended him to Mayall. After two albums with Colosseum he left to concentrate on session work and production, working with the Woods Band, Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
(The North Star Grassman and the Ravens), Paul Kent, John Martyn
John Martyn
John Martyn, OBE , born Iain David McGeachy, was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour...
(Bless the Weather), Day of Phoenix and Burning Red Ivanhoe from Denmark, and Chris DeBurgh. In 1972 he rejoined Dave Greenslade and formed the band Greenslade
Greenslade
Greenslade is an English progressive rock band. It was originally formed in the autumn of 1972 with the following line-up:* Dave Greenslade - keyboards...
. He remained with the band until 1974, recording three albums with them. Subsequently he played with Curved Air
Curved Air
Curved Air are a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band was a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements...
and then in a long-lasting semipro jazz band called Big Chief, with former Colosseum saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most important English blues-rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:...
. He is still playing with Big Chief, Blue Amba and The Warthogs, and plays double bass at The Constitution pub in Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
(the late Davy Graham's local) every other Tuesday in the Cellar Bar.
Reeves is also head of the British sound technology firm MTR Professional Audio
MTR Professional Audio
MTR Professional Audio is a UK sound technology company founded in the latter 20th century by the musician Tony Reeves. It supplies audio amplifiers, signal connectors, EQ, power supplies and other studio hardware...
, in business for almost thirty years.