The Reese Project, a compelling, mesmerizing quartet of masterful musicians, performs real jazz, including standards & their own originals. They have created a new jazz sound: "East Coast Cool." 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. Tom Reese's highly-charged, soaring flute lines carve new sounds out of traditional forms. Laurie Haines Reese 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.

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Current release "Eastern Standard Time" (Sept 2009 In the Groove) is now receiving radio airplay. Last release "This Just In" is on "In the Groove Records." Sound bites & more info about the band are available at www.ReeseProject.com.

The Reese Project Bio

The Reese Project, a compelling, mesmerizing quartet of masterful musicians, performs real jazz, including standards & their own originals. They have created a new jazz sound: "East Coast Cool." 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, John Scofield, Pat Methany, Ellington, Monk, Grisman, Grapelli, Turtle Island & Kronos String Quartets, and classic rock bands.

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.

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").