Anthony Robert Reeves (born 18 April 1943,New Eltham, South East London) is anEnglishbass guitarist/contrabassist, noted for his "distinctive and complex bass sound"[1] and use of electronic effects. Reeves was a co-founder ofColosseum, serving as bassist from 1968 to 1970.
As a teenager Reeves learned orchestraldouble bass and played in localjazz-oriented groups (also sometimes the Wes Minster Five) with Colfes Grammar School, Lewisham schoolmates,[2]Dave Greenslade andJon Hiseman; Reeves and Hiseman would later record withJohn Mayall on the albumBare Wires and then go on to formColosseum.[1]
Keen on jazz, Reeves played in theNew Jazz Orchestra and had learned many standard songs. He worked in the music industry for several years, first in the quality control department ofDecca Records listening to output that ranged from medieval classical music toChubby Checker, after four years becoming assistant producer to Tony D'Amato, then briefly a record plugger forPye Records. In late 1964 he suggested for Pye release, and played on, the instrumental UK hitSounds Orchestral's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind". He became assistant toTony 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 theMike Taylor Quartet on the albumPendulum in 1965 and withDavy Graham onFolk, Blues and Beyond andMidnight Man in 1966.[3]
Shortly afterwards Reeves 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, andChris DeBurgh. In 1972 he rejoined Dave Greenslade and formed the bandGreenslade. Reeves remained with the band until 1974, recording three albums with them. As with Colosseum, his departure was motivated by a desire to focus on his career as a producer.[4]
In 1973 he played onMike Taylor Remembered, a tribute to the musician, with Neil Ardley, Jon Hiseman, Ian Carr, Barbara Thompson and other major modern British jazz players. Subsequently he played withCurved Air and in jazz band called Big Chief, with former Colosseum saxophonistDick Heckstall-Smith and former Curved Air guitarist Mick Jacques. He still plays with Big Chief, Blue Amba and The Warthogs, and plays double bass at The Constitution pub inCamden Town (Davy Graham's local) every other Tuesday in the Cellar Bar, where he met multi-instrumentalist and songwriterJC Carroll, with whom he performs and records sporadically. They recorded a live album on their first show together in Ascot. They are understood to be working on an extended raga called "Looking for Gold" and an acoustic album.
Reeves is also head of the British sound technology firmMTR Professional Audio, in business for almost 30 years.[5]
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