The Reese Project, plays lively jazz, blues, funk & classical music. Mesmerizing to watch, this unique quartet combines flute, cello, guitar & drums. Gorgeous compositions weave elements from around the world into up-tempo, high energy jazz and haunting sounds that flow from calypso to waltz feels. They're appealing to see & hear (listen for Tom's trademark "Yeah!") and have played to sold out venues & multiple standing ovations. The unique instrumentation of the group & their "outside of the box" approach has critics raving with their fresh approach to traditional jazz. A "must see," The Reese Project will leave you wanting more & more "East Coast Cool."
Tom Reese, flute, writes most of the band's material. In performance, his highly-charged, soaring flute lines carve new sounds out of traditional forms. Laurie Haines Reese, cello, adds a unique flavor to the band with the electric cello. Her shredding sound and acoustic bass lines compliment the creative edge in the original works as well as the standards. Bobby Brewer, guitar, sends the band stomping & growling into the aether. Aaron Walker, drums, captures the motion in the rhythms and drives the sound.
With a nod to past masters, the original jazz created within this group of musicians steps in a new direction, while staying squarely within the boundaries of real jazz. It's definitely music for fresh ears. Performing jazz standards, funk, blues & originals, The Reese Project includes something for everyone -- from Bach to the Beatles. They have played to packed houses throughout the US & Canada (even in a major snow storm!).
Their influences include Miles, Coltrane, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Yo Yo Ma, Modeski Martin & Wood, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, David Grisman, Stephane Grapelli, Turtle Island & Kronos String Quartets, and classic rock bands.
MySpace URL:
http://www.myspace.com/thereeseproject
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The Reese Project has released seven CD's. “Live from Ft. Worth (2006), was recorded in August of ‘06. "Vicodin Dreams" (2005), reached 53 on JazzWeek charts and stayed in the top 60 for two months. "Blue Etude" (2002), was in the top 20 in the 2002 Grammies. "Apocalyptic Hayride" (2004), had a song on WRTI’s Hot 11 for an unprecedented three months. Earlier CD's include "Dark Kat" (2003) & "Viewpoints" (1997). They were selected to be on WVIA's "Best of 30 Years of Homegrown Music" CD; Lancaster Jazz compilations, several Christmas compilations & other honors. They have also composed & performed several movie scores.
Video "Memphis Underground," written by Herbie Mann, performed by The Reese Project in Mo' Jazz Cafe, Wilmington, Vermont. Players: Tom Reese (flute), Laurie Haines Reese (cello), Bobby Brewer (guitar), Aaron Walker (drums) & Vinnie Dorso (percussion). Filmed for RSN TV. Intro filmed at Alois Martini Bar at the Bube's Brewery Complex in Mount Joy, PA.
Band members have worked with Les Brown, Petula Clark, Stanley Clarke, Norm Crosby, Jay Daversa, Gloria Estefan, Larry Gatlin, Robert Gordon, Charlie Grace, John Guerin, Phil Harris, Roger Kelloway, Tom Larsen, Jerry Lewis, Melissa Manchester, Henry Mancini, Chuck Mangione, Shelly Manne, Valery Pomoronov, Jerry Reed, Jeanne C. Riley, Chita Rivera, Bobby Rydell, Ira Sullivan, BJ Thomas, Rufus Thomas, & others.
"I caught three fabulous acts Sunday at the Lancaster Jazz Festival. The headliner, Kurt Elling, kept the listeners there, but for my tastes, the second act, The Reese Project, stole the show. This unique combination with a soloing cello playing bass lines, amazing soloist Tom Reese making the flute viable as a jazz instrument & soaring vocals by veteran vocalist Ron Smith proved that unique instrumentation equals great jazz." (Logan McKinney, "New Waves in Radio")
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TOM REESE, flute. A captivating performer, Tom’s strength’s are in his warm sound & driving melodic lines. Called “multi-lingual,” his versatility knows no bounds. From composition to folk music, to jazz & blues, classical, even rock’n’roll, this eclectic musician combines elements from all musical genres to create his unique sound. Tom is an innovator, whether in composition, education, or performance. Tom has won awards for composition & education, including three recent NEA awards for his work as Music Director for the YouTheatre program at the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, PA. Tom's compositions are known for their beautiful melodies, innovative instrumentation & modern harmonies. His CD, "Blue Etude," was in the top 20 of the 2002 Grammies, and his classical compositions are featured on "Conversations," which won an award for Best Instrumental Album in the 2002 Just Plain Folks Awards, the largest independent music awards. He was involved with the Arts Infusion program piloted at Price Elementary, which helped to raise the school from 17 in the county to 1. Tom has taught composition for “Summerstage for Youth” at the Fulton Opera House, & York’s “Day at the Strand,” among many other residencies, workshops, and performances. He also performs with MuZette, Susquehanna & Wyndfall. His bands have opened for Bela Fleck, Gaelic Storm, Grey Eye Glances & more, & he has performed with Valery Ponomarev & Nick Brignola.
LAURIE HAINES REESE, cello. Trained in both classical music & jazz, Laurie loves the variety in playing all types of music on the cello. She earned a master of music performance degree from USC in Los Angeles & a bachelor's from the University of Miami in Florida. She worked with Ira Sullivan & Strings Attached while in Miami. She was featured at the New Directions in Cello Festival, and participated in the Spoleto Festival & Congress of Strings. A member of numerous symphony orchestras, she was a concerto soloist with the Maui Symphony. She free-lanced in Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Hawaii, New York and Europe, working with Henry Mancini, Melissa Manchester, BJ Thomas, Gloria Estefan, & Chuck Mangione. Laurie started recording at age 16, and is on many recordings, including Jon Anderson (of Yes)’s Christmas album. She teaches at the Lancaster Conservatory of Music, at Beam’s Music (Ephrata, PA) & at her private studio in Mount Joy, formerly teaching at the college level. In addition to The Reese Project, she performs with MuZette, Susquehanna & Wyndfall.
BOBBY BREWER, guitar, recently moved to PA from Nashville. He was active on the local scene with his own bands and freelance work. While living in Los Angeles, Boston, & Oklahoma, Bob taught at the college level, performed with pops orchestras, gave guitar clinics, and led his own bands, as well as going on the road with numerous bands. Now off the road and working at Fullhouse Recorders in Whitehouse, TN, Bob produces and writes full time. Three albums are in print under his name and he is on numerous recordings with other jazz artists. He has also played on numerous country demo recordings. His band, the Funkdawgs, recently won an award for recording in cyber-space. Bobby has played guitar with Stanley Clarke, Petula Clark, Norm Crosby, Larry Gatlin, Les Brown, Phil Harris, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Reed, Chita Rivera, Doug Forman (formerly of the band “The Fools”), Bobby Rydell, Jeanne C. Riley, Rufus Thomas & Earl Day and "Majic. He has performed for the Oklahoma City Symphony "Pops,” the Longy School of Music's jazz band, & the Marcel Dance Company.
AARON WALKER, drums. A busy & versatile drummer, Aaron is currently involved with several projects in addition to performing with The Reese Project. He works with Plan B (rock), Aaron Walker Trio (jazz), Ralph P Group (jazz), Mystery Jazz Trio (jazz) & was co-leader of OCD Circus, an original music collaboration. He has recorded and/or toured with Defender (classic & original rock), Plywood Jungle (alternative rock), Burning Bus (world beat/eclectic originals), Tom Larsen Band (blues rock & funk), Robert Gordon (rockabilly/country), Simply D (rock and pop), Doogie Hill Project (jazz), DC & Company (R&B, rock, blues), Charlie Gracie (50's icon & rockabilly legend), and Animation (progressive rock). He has opened for national & international acts including Sting, Dave Matthews Band, Live, Natalie Merchant, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dave Mason, Johnny Lang, Mark Farner, Poi Dog Pondering, Kix, Brave Combo, Huffamoose, & the Healing Sixes. Aaron is also a drum instructor & clinician. |
