TONY REEVES




Fantastic bassist, he provides a full, powerful sound wherever he plays. He was born on April 18th, 1943, in London, UK.
WES MINSTER FIVE
This band was commanded by Wes Minster (real name: Brian Smith) around 1963. The band had many different members, but one of the lineups was:

Paul Williams (vocals)
Wes Minster (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Clive Burrows (sax)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
But Paul Williams soon left.

Wes Minster (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Clive Burrows (sax)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
Next to leave was Clive Burrows.

Wes Minster (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
+ other unknown to me. Help!
They released two singles in 1964, and next to abandon was Dave Greenslade. One of his replacements was Zoot Money:

Wes Minster (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Zoot Money (keyboards)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
+ other unknown to me. Help!
That same year, they split. It's interesting noting that the first lineups contained 3 members of future band Colosseum.

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Wes Minster
Clive Burrows
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Paul Williams
Dave Greenslade
Jon Hiseman
Zoot Money

THE NEW JAZZ ORCHESTRA
I don't have details about this band. I think it can be the early band commanded by sax player Trevor Watts, but I'm not sure. Help, please!
MIKE TAYLOR QUARTET
This was a jazz combo led by piano player Mike Taylor around 1965:

Mike Taylor (piano)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dave Tomlin (sax)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
I don't know if Tony plays in any of his albums.

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Mike Taylor
Dave Tomlin
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Jon Hiseman

PETE LEMER QUINTET
Pete Lemer is a great keyboardist, with a long career (Gilgamesh, Gong, Mike Oldfield, Baker-Gurvitz Army, currently working with Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia with Jon Hiseman. Someday he'll have his own page in my Olympus). Back in 1966, he had his own quintet, where his drummer was ... yep, Jon Hiseman. :)

Pete Lemer (keyboards)
Tony Reeves (bass)
John Surman (sax)
George (Nisar Ahmad) Khan (sax)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
They recorded an album in the summer of 1966, Local colour.

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
John Surman
George (Nisar Ahmad) Khan
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Pete Lemer
Jon Hiseman

JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUESBREAKERS
John Mayall band was a sort of university for British musicians during the 60s (many of them are featured in my site). Tony Reeves joins Mayall in April 1968 replacing Andy Fraser, along with mate Jon Hiseman (who replaced Keef Hartley).

John Mayall (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica)
Mick Taylor (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Chris Mercer (tenor sax)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (tenor & soprano sax)
Henry Lowther (trumpet, violin)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
They released Bare wires, recorded on April 1968. An unreleased track, 'Knockers step forward' appears in the fantastic compilation of unreleased material Thru the years.

But Reeves, Heckstall-Smith and Hiseman went to form their own band, Colosseum. This was July 1968.

Thru the years (originally a 2LP, including the complete Looking back LP inside), now it has been released as a 1CD, with just the tracks not yet included in Looking back. It comprises 14 tracks, none of them ever available on an album. Another musicians from my Olympus: Hughie Flint (2 tracks), Keef Hartley (1 track), Aynsley Dunbar (7 tracks). Noted appearances: Peter Green (8 songs, some of them just superb!), Mick Taylor (3 tracks), as well as Jon Hiseman, Tony Reeves and Dick Heckstall Smith. Tony Reeves appears in two songs: 'Knockers step forward and 'Hide and seek'.

Further albums with unreleased material include Primal solos, with live tracks dating from 1966 till 1968, including two tracks from the lineup with Tony Reeves ('Look at the girl' and 'Wish you were mine').

Down the line is a double compilation album comprising the very first album Mayall released (called John Mayall plays John Mayall) plus another LP full of tracks from other albums. I think it must include several unreleased tracks, but I'm not sure, as I don't have this album.

In 1997, it has been released the compilation The best of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - As it all began 64-69. It has been digitally remastered, and includes Mayall's comments on every track, from an interview. In my own opinion, the selection is quite good, and includes some songs not available on albums. Tony Reeves plays in just one live track: 'Start walkin'' (recorded at Falmer College, Brighton England, 25th May 1968).



Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Chris Mercer
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Henry Lowther
Jon Hiseman
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
John Mayall
Mick Taylor

COLOSSEUM
It was September 1968, and this magnificent band was born.

Jim Roche (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (sax)
Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
But Jimmy Roche didn't stay in the band for long. He was replaced by another great guitarist, Jimmy Litherland:

James Litherland (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (sax)
Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
They released two albums in 1969. The first one is Those who are about to die, it was produced by Gerry Bron and Tony, and recorded in the winter of 1968.

Their 2nd album is the superb Valentyne suite. It was recorded during Spring and Summer 1969.

But Jim Litherland left the band in September 1969, and the definitive replacement comes in October 1969, Clem Clempson. He even overdubbed the guitar parts for the American edition of Valentyne suite.

Clem Clempson (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (sax)
Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
But this time, it was Tony Reeves who left the band before Summer 1970 (he was replaced by Louis Cennamo).

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jim Roche
James Litherland
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Clem Clempson
Dave Greenslade
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Jon Hiseman

And then?
After his departure from Colosseum, Tony started playing sessions, as well as producing several Danish bands.
GREENSLADE
Dave Greenslade formed his own band around November 1972. And he called Tony Reeves with him:

Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Dave Lawson (keyboards, vocals)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Andy McCulloch (drums)
They released two fantastic albums, Greenslade and Bedside manners are extra, both released in 1973.

Their third album, Spyglass guest, featured old mate Clem Clempson playing guitar solos on two tracks ('Little red fry up' and 'Siam seesaw'; both solos recorded in one evening). Another guest musician: the great Andy Roberts (guitar on 1 track) and Graham Smith (violin). Tony wrote 'Siam seesaw'.

But Tony left the band after the album was released, in 1975.

There's a collective live album featuring one track by Greenslade ('Feathered friends'). The album is Reading Festival 1973.

In 1999, it has appeared an album recorded during several concerts by the first lineup, aptly called Live. The tracks were recorded between 1973 and 1975. A very good album, with powerful performances. You just need to listen to Tony's bass on the track 'Melange'.

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Dave Lawson
Andy McCulloch
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Dave Greenslade

CURVED AIR
A superb band, with many different lineup, but always fantastic musicians. Tony Reeves joined them in September 1975:

Sonja Kristina (vocals)
Darryl Way (violin)
Mick Jacques (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Stewart Copeland (drums)
He arrived on time for the tour promoting Midnight wire (although he doesn't play there). After the tour, they recorded a new album in Spring 1976, Airborne, with contributions by Robin Lumley (keyboards), Bob Sargeant (keyboards), Henry Lowther (trumpet), Alan Skidmore (sax), and Frank Ricotti (percussion). Tony co-writes two tracks in the album: 'Broken lady' and 'Touch of tequila'. By the way, the CD reissue contains a bonus track, a cover of the classic 'Baby please don't go'

In August 1976, Darryl Way left the band.

Sonja Kristina (vocals)
Mick Jacques (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Alex Richman (keyboards)
Stewart Copeland (drums)
But things were never the same. They finally split in December 1976.

There's a live album culled from BBC sessions along the years. It's called Live at the BBC, and Tony Reeves is featured in 5 tracks recorded in January 1976 (the rest of the album, 8 tracks, features the lineups with Francis Monkman).

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Sonja Kristina
Mick Jacques
Darryl Way
Alex Richman
Stewart Copeland

GREENSLADE (again)
Time for reforming Greenslade band. It was 1977. This was the personnel:

Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
Mick Rogers (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Jon Hiseman (drums)
But they only lasted for a tour, without having recorded any material. A pity...

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Dave Greenslade
Mick Rogers
Jon Hiseman

BIG CHIEF
Big Chief was a jazzy band formed in 1976. Tony Reeves joined them in 1979:

Mick Jacques (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Adrian Paton (keyboards, vocals)
John Fry (sax, vocals)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (sax)
Tony Edwards (percussion, vocals)
+ others unknown to me. Help!
Many musicians have been part of the band during two decades, and I can't find any way to trace those lineups. If anyone can help, please... Some of those musicians are: John Etheridge, Geoff Castle, Henry Lowther (trumpet, violin), Pete Lemer (keyboards), Phil Mead, Nick Newell, Alan Ross, Art Themen, Ray Warleigh, and many others.

This is the lineup that recorded their first album, It don't make sense:

Mick Jacques (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Adrian Paton (keyboards, vocals)
John Fry (sax, vocals)
Dave Chambers (sax, flute)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (sax)
Chris Fry (trombone)
Gary O'Toole (drums)
John Dillon (drums)
Tony Edwards (percussion, vocals)
And this was the lineup around 1997:

Mick Jacques (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Adrian Paton (keyboards, vocals)
John Fry (sax, vocals)
Chris Fry (trombone)
Louis Borenius (drums)
Tony Edwards (percussion, vocals)
They have recorded a new mini-CD, with 4 tracks, Steppin' out, after having added a new member to the band:

Mick Jacques (guitar)
Tony Reeves (bass)
Adrian Paton (keyboards)
John Fry (sax, vocals)
Edward Benstead (trumpet)
Chris Fry (trombone)
Louis Borenius (drums)
Tony Edwards (percussion, vocals)


Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Mick Jacques
Adrian Paton
John Fry
Dave Chambers
Tony Edwards
Chris Fry
Louis Borenius
John Etheridge
Geoff Castle
Pete Lemer
Phil Mead
Nick Newell
Alan Ross
Art Themen
Ray Warleigh
Gary O'Toole
John Dillon
Edward Benstead
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Henry Lowther

GREENSLADE (again)
In 1999, a live album is released by Greenslade. This led them to think about reforming. And they did it, in year 2000. This time, Dave Lawson is busy and he can't join, so he's substituted with a talented guy, John Young. And Andy McCulloch is not available, so the album has been recorded without a drummer. But, of course, they'll need to get one for the tour.

Dave Greenslade (keyboards)
John Young (keyboards, vocals)
Tony Reeves (bass)
? (drums)
They've recorded a new studio album, Large afternoon, to be released very soon, and they're going to start a tour soon. That's great news!!

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
John Young
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Dave Greenslade

Questions to solve:

1. Colosseum's "Daughter of time" album has a bonus track on the CD reissue, called 'Jumping off the sun'. Credits say: "recorded early in 1970. Chris Farlowe's vocal was added in August 1971". And the bassist is not credited. Could he be Tony? Same could be asked about 'The time machine', basically a live drum solo. The credits say "recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, July 1970", so I don't know if it features Reeves, Cennamo or Clarke. I've said it's a drum solo, but there is a very short passage by the band.

2. Was Tony still in Colosseum when the 'Supershow' movie was filmed?

3. Did Simon Phillips toured with Greenslade in 1977?

4. I've seen announced the album 'Cast your fate to wind', credited to Sounds Orchestral. It says it features Tony Reeves, Frank Clark, Johnny Pearson and Peter McGurk. Is this 'our' Tony?

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