Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz Associate Professor of Music in Jazz Double Bass Nat Reeves is starting the 2018 - 2019 academic year in celebration. On August 24, 2018, Professor Reeves presided over the sold-out CD Release Party for his second album as a leader, which is entitled "Blue Ridge". The festivities were held in one of the Northeast's premier jazz clubs, The Side Door Jazz Club at the historic Old Lyme Inn in Old Lyme, Connecticut. "Blue Ridge" will officially be available to the public at large on October 1, 2018. The album marks the debut of Side Door Jazz Club Owner/Impresario Ken Kitchings' new record label Side Door Jazz. The album features fellow Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz faculty members Steve Davis on trombone, Rick Germanson on piano and Eric McPherson on drums, as well as alumnus Joshua Bruneau on trumpet and flugelhorn. "Blue Ridge" was recorded at The Side Door Jazz Club itself on January 8 and 9, 2018, in a process which the aforementioned Kitchings described as a true pleasure to be a part of. "Blue Ridge" refers to The Blue Ridge Mountains. Included in this geographic region is Lynchburg, Virginia, hometown of Professor Reeves, who describes the mountains in the album credits as a second home for childhood friend Larry Scott and himself. Professor Reeves also goes on to fondly remember following The Blue Ridge Parkway through the mountains alongside his mother Annie, whenever he returned home to Lynchburg for a visit. Congratulations on this monumental accomplishment in a thriving musical life, Professor Reeves!
Noted for his artful articulation, time, tone, taste and irrepressible sense of swing and fluid invention, Reeves has always been a favorite of all kinds of instrumentalists, but a particularly special favorite of super saxophonists. Included among the roster of pro-Reeves reed players are such heavyweight champions as Sonny Stitt, Jackie McLean(the bassist’s great friend and mentor) and Kenny Garrett.
Stitt, McLean and Garrett are just three of the sax czars listed in the busy bassist’s thick resume studded with a galaxy of name jazz performers on various instruments. Among many other eminent saxophone connections are Pharoah Sanders, Rene McLean, Eric Alexander and Houston Person. His resume included work with an array of top performers at gigs world-wide from Tel Aviv to Tokyo, in famous venues ranging from the Village Vanguard to the Montreaux Jazz Festival.
