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A Life in Music
Nat Reeves was born in 1955 in Lynchburg, Virginia. His early years can be characterized as ordinary for a young boy complete with a supportive family, football and fishing. This normal life took a dramatic turn at 16 years, when he was introduced to the electric bass by his grandfather, Russell Jackson. When the self-taught musician teamed with other Virginia artists, the journey began. By 1979, he was in New York City, performing in small jazz clubs and at jam sessions.
Two events occurred in 1982 that would change Nats musical career forever. Nat traveled for the first time out of the US to Japan with Sonny Stitt. It was Sonnys last tour and an experience Nat will never forget. At the same time, Nat moved to Hartford, Connecticut and started working with Jackie McLean, to this day the most important musical influence in his life. Nat began teaching at the University of Hartford and the Artists Collective. Jackie McLean was the major inspiration in the jazz program at The Hartt School and he and his wife, Dollie, founded the Artists Collective, an arts organization in the city. Nat found a calling in teaching and developed musical skills while traveling throughout the world performing and recording with Jackie and other living jazz legends.
In 1994, Nat started touring and recording with Kenny Garrett. He and Kenny first met in the late seventies in New York City. Performing with Kenny allowed Nat to further expand his soloing skills and taught him the importance of diverse musical collaborations in an ever-changing setting of musicians and venues. Out of a mutually respectful musical relationship, there developed a friendship that exists today.
It was in 2001 that Nat decided to focus full-time on his teaching career at The Hartt School. By this time, the University of Hartford had renamed the African American Music Studies Program to the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. Nat continued to perform, but not as intensely as in the past twenty years. And, most importantly, he continued his personal and professional relationship with mentor Jackie McLean.
Today, Nat is committed to perpetuating Jackie McLeans legacy at The Hartt School, as well as continuing his career performing. Influenced most by bassists Sam Jones, Paul Chambers and Ron Carter, Nat is a gifted musician, who can be seen performing in every major jazz venue in the world.
The Bandleaders
Nat has been privileged to work with many great bandleaders.
Jackie McLean, alto saxophone
Kenny Garrett, alto and soprano saxophones
Pharoah Sanders, tenor saxophone
Rene McLean, alto and tenor saxophones, flute
Sonny Stitt, saxophone
Harold Mabern, piano
Steve Davis, trombone
Eric Alexander, tenor saxophone
David Hazeltine, piano
Mike Clark, drummer
Houston Person, tenor saxophone
Larry Willis, piano
Mark Templeton, piano
Pat Metheny, guitar
Mike LeDonne, piano
John Scofield, guitar
Jack Wilson, piano
Curtis Fuller trombone
Eddie Henderson, trumpet
Joe Farnsworth, drums
Randy Johnston, guitar
Javon Jackson, tenor saxophone
Benny Green, piano
The Musicians
Adams, Pepper baritone sax |
Harrell, Tom trumpet |
Nash, Lewis drums |
The Venues
Live international performances in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Caribbean
Venue Highlights:
Antigua Jazz Festival
Baabeck Jazz Festival, Lebonon
Blue Note club performances: Tokyo and Fukuoko, Japan; Milan, Italy; Seoul, Korea
Copenhagn Jazz Festival, Sweden
Durban Festival of Music, South Africa
Eilat Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv, Israel
Expo 92, Barcelona, Spain
Fano Jazz by the Sea, Italy
Free Jazz Festival, Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil
Guinness Jazz Festival, Johannesburg, South Africa
Istanbul Jazz Festival, Turkey
JazzBo 90, Bologna, Italy
JVC Jazz Festival, New York, NY
Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Norway
Melbourne Jazz Festival, Australia
Montreaux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
New Morning club performances, Paris, France
North Sea Jazz Festival, Holland
Post This Neo That Jazz Festival (Tribute to Miles Davis)
Umbria Jazz Festivals, Perugia and Orvieto, Italy
USIA Arts of America Tour of Africa, six weeks
USIA Arts of America Tour of Southern Africa, five weeks
Wien Jazz Festival, Vienna, Austria
Live performances in the US and Canada
Venue highlights:
Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA
BB King Club, Foxwoods Casino, CT and NYC
Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA
Blue Note, NYC
Blues Alley, Washington DC
Cactus Jazz Festival, San Angelo, TX
Catalinas, Los Angeles, CA
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, NYC
Cool jazz, Winnepeg Festival
Fiesta Jazz Festival, San Antonio, TX
Frog Island Festival, Detroit, MI
Hartford Jazz Festival, Hartford, CT
Hood River Jazz Festival, Hood River, OR
Iowa Jazz Festival, Iowa City, IA
Iridium, NYC
Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA
Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles, CA
Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL
Jazz Standard, NYC
Las Vegas Jazz Festival, Las Vegas, NV
Litchfield Jazz Festival and Music Camp, Litchfield, CT
Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, Canada
Music Mountain, Lakeville, CT
Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI
Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, CA
Regatta Bar, Boston, MA
Santa Fe Music Hall, Santa Fe, NM
Saratoga Jazz Festival, Saratoga, NY
Scullers, Boston, MA
Smoke, NYC
Sweet Basil, NYC
Syracuse Jazz Festival, Syracuse, NY
The Dakota, St. Paul, MN
The Iron Horse, Northampton
The Knitting Factory, NYC
University of Virginia Jazz Festival, Charlottesville, VA
Village Vanguard, NYC
Wichita Jazz Festival, Wichita, KS
Yoshis, Oakland, CA
