Don Reed
Don plays everything from folk to country, slashing blues guitar to bluegrass, ragtime, gypsy jazz and rock and way beyond that!
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Starry Eyes Starry Eyes
This is a tribute to Django with a couple of overdubbed guitars doing the gypsy jazz swing thang!
Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Don Reed has brought real meaning to his craft over the last 25 years in countless clubs, festivals, cafes, colleges and concert halls across the nation. His playing has been described as "a tightrope walk in which he always seems to skirt falling by doing something even more amazing than the last." He has absorbed a vast repertoire of music and made it his own, personal and distinctive style. His numerous musical projects showcase his mastery of many instruments and styles of acoustic and electric music, from folk to country, slashing blues guitar to bluegrass, ragtime, gypsy jazz and rock. Although Reed has been somewhat reclusive, his reputation as a musician's musician is spreading fast. Even though he is not associated with any major record labels, his music is having an impact. Audiences all over the world are catching the Don Reed experience.Band/artist history
beginning...
I started playing the guitar at the age of 7 in Buena Park, California. My dad was an avid music fan. It was all about country, bluegrass, western swing and more. I guess that's where I first recognized a guitar and what it was. My brother ( Dennis Reed ) started playing it first. He had a few bands and I guess I wanted to be like that. Girls always liked musicians. Well, maybe not flute players, but a guitar...yeah. I began playing and recording little things with my brother in our bedrooms. Graduated to gatherings. I gained acceptance. Not bad for painfully shy. Next came real shows. Nervous beyond description. Then live radio. More performing. We did various folk festivals, contests and shows. Won some awards, placing 1st & 2nd in guitar and mandolin at the Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Contest-'75 & '76, Cal State Fullerton Banjo & Fiddle Contest-'74, '75, '76 , Follow's Guitar and Banjo Festival-'77, '78, '79, '80. We did McCabes in Santa Monica with Dog in a Hole. An interesting mix of dudes and hairstyles. Well, the race was on.
later on...
I found an electric guitar. I experimented with a few different band configurations before settling on a trio. More room for my solos. Funny how a painfully shy guy can change overnight. I began performing with my little trio the effects. We did a number of showcases in Orange County including The Woodstock, Radio City and many others I can't remember. Later on I joined a punk band-The Psychotic Fungus. We were decent and I had the upper hand as I could actually play my instrument. It was cool, though, as the other guys had a certain command of their stuff that only raw, new and fun feelings can bring to it. We played some LA clubs like The Starwood, Club Lhasa, Madame Wongs, The Grand and once again, many others that I fail to rememeber. Hey, its like if you remember the 60's then you weren't there syndrome.
much later....
In the late 80's and early 90's I started doing more lucrative projects. Which meant, I needed the money. I did a stint with Pat C. Pink that allowed me to work all day at a factory and then drive 50 miles each way to a local (?) Marine Base to play. Pat really knew how to book the gigs and that is one thing that I have never been able to do consistantly. Give me a talented player that can also market well and I'll give you whatever I have in my pocket, cause that's a rarity. The two just don't mix. Pat was terrible and surrounded herself with younger players that shredded. SOrry for the hard left there. I also started doing more stage and studio work which allowed playing with the likes of Dick Dale & the Deltones (king of the surf guitar), Ian Tyson (of Ian & Syvia fame), Jackie Deshannon (60's pop icon), J.J. Cale (Clapton's After Midnite writer) and many others that I CAN remember, but will not devulge due to legal issues and restraining orders.
even later...
I started playing with a band-The Lobster Repair. Was a great introduction to legal drugs, loud parties and gigs with nudity. Sometimes theirs, sometimes ours. We lasted about 3-4 years and even did a single: No Stinking Badges. I miss those dudes. I also did a mini-reunion of the effects, which meant we got together for a birthday or something. Lastly I went to the dark side and had a 3+ year stint with the country band Marc Corey Lee & Del Rio which resulted in 2 CDs, numerous gigs playing with the likes of Tracy Byrd, Ian Tyson, Diamond Rio and many others. Most importantly, it meant buying lots of cowboy shirts. Seriously, I made tons of friends and have a lot of good memories. I just have seizures when I see a 10 gallon hat.
now...
In my delicate age now, I have decided that doing acoustic music again might be fun (which means amps are heavy and gigs are fewer). I am trying to play more with my little project the Frette Brothers. We have a few gigs here and there. The old folks seem to like us. I've played live and recorded with Sandii Castleberry. She's a great local singer-songwriter with a flair for marketing. Cool. I have also been supporting my brother Dennis in various concert settings. I have also guested on several CDs recently recorded including the freeradicals, Dennis Roger Reed, Charlene Johnson and Psycadelicatesin. I am now working with super signer-songwriter duo Joey & Robin Latimer in the mountains of Idyllwild. I've met a number of great players on the hill, including Bill Plummer, Paul Carmen, Barnaby Finch, Chuck Alvarez and many more. Lastly and the hardest part is the recording of my first solo project. I have a number of pieces that need further polishing and of course money would be nice. Maybe a nice kick in the ass would do.Have you performed in front of an audience?I play about once or twice a month at various clubs throughout Southern CA.
Here's a link to where I'll be playing:
http://www.donreed.net/html/Schedule.htm
A selection of reviewer's comments on Don's playing: "fiery, compelling guitar work"Mike Bohem-LA Times, ", "tuneful, rich tones from Don's guitar give the work presence and distinction"Jim Washburn-LA Times, OC Weekly Magazine, ".
Your musical influences
I am primarily a guitarist and started out listening to what my father and brother listened to. My dad has passed, but loved all kinds of country, bluegrass, rockabilly and that kind of stuff. My brother listened to what everybody was listening to in the late 60's including Jimi Hendrix, Randy California, Roy Buchannon. Lets see..tons of great players-Mike Bloomfield, Ry Cooder, David Lindley with Jackson Browne, Albert Lee with Emmylou Harris. I was weened on all of that great stuff. I took it to John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, John Hurt, Gary Davis. I'm all over the place with guitarists. There's very few that I DON'T like!!!What equipment do you use?
Here's what I'm currently playing
THE GUITARS & STRINGED INTRUMENTS
C.F. Martin Instruments:
Custom 15 - This is basically a prototype HD28 made in 1983 by C.F. Martin. This is my main axe. It has snowflake fretboard inlay, shaved bracing, custom tortoise pickgaurd, Bourgeois dual pickup system, small vintage style tuners and a whole lot more!
D28 - My baby. It's a '65 Brazilian stock. Kinda sad as it really stays in it's case more than I'd like.
Gibson Instruments:
J45 - This is a 1955 sunburst Gibson acoustic. Nabbed it at a local shop a while back. I really love it as it just screams to "play me". Kinda battered. Has a custom ordered L5 neck with the large block inlays. Stuck a Fishman pickup in and replaced tuners with originals. Also replaced all plastic with bone for tone to the bone!
335 - This is a early 70's sunburst electric. I believe it's a '70 actually as the humbuckers are the stamped Gibson type and I was told they only did these in that year. Kinda funny how the "vintage" collector crap gets in the way of playing the damn thing. Anyways, I love it. It sounds good and it's my 1st 335 so I really dig the vibe. I think it bridges the Fender/Gibson gap. As you will read, I'm kinda a Fender guy.
AO Mandolin - 1920 A style mandolin. Black finish. This is a worn little guy, but has by far the sweetest tone I've ever heard for a mandolin. Every note is articulated. Nice action and overall great mojo! Has a Fishman bridge pickup for Deep Purple type tones.
Epiphone Emperor (not really a Gibson, but a second cousin?)- An extremely nice jazz box with all of the jewelry. Done in a gloss black with ebony appointments. Previous owner passed away and his son placed it (lovingly) on eBay. Dad even inlaid (expertly) mother of pearl throughout. Now if I could just play jazz....
Fender Instruments:
Stratocaster - Very liberal term here. I worked for Fender for about a month in the late 70's. No wonder that era turned out crap! This has some the components from my beloved '72 (guts, hardware..). The damn body & neck is an ESP (sorry collectors). I took the ugly Japanese red body and had an automotive painter shoot it tourquoise (yes...). It's a player and I love it. The neck has super wide frets and the rosewood feels just right. Oh yeah, it screams!
Stratocaster - OK. I see a trend here with the Fenders. This is a no name body, Squier neck, elecs, hardware. It's natural finished and has heavy strings-raised high for my Ry Cooder imitations.
Telecaster - Well.....this guy is silver metalflake. Nuff said? I don't think there is 1 damn Fender part on this one! This is all country. I had a Hipshot B bender on it for a while. It just screams Don Rich of Buck Owens' Buckaroos. Very nice sounding axe and it's REAL heavy! Update: I am in the process of scouting another body for this as the silver has finally gotten to me!
All The Rest (favorites):
DonMo - 2000 Tricone metal body. This is a custom axe that I had made from a picture on a website. The luthier, Don Morrison, is in Australia. I am VERY trusting. For those of you that are not familiar with metal bodied guitars, this is much like the National brand made in the 20's-30's and beyond. It's super heavy and sounds just amazing. It also has a Highlander pickup system that sounds transparent. My brother, Dennis, turned me on to this guy and also suggested that we have him engrave our recently deceased parent's names on it. Good idea as every time I look down on the upper bout, I think of them. Please take a look at DonMo's instruments. You'll be glad you did!
Dobro - 1936 Wood body. CA made, sunburst single spider coned. Picked up at world-class addiction enabler Bob Page's Buffalo Brothers Guitars (like 50% of all of my axes). Hade some neck issues and after a little TLC from Kenney Blackwell, expert guitar doctor to the stars and non-stars like me, it's back and screaming. Fishman transducer helps w/volume.
Dobro - 1970 Metal body. Single cone biscut, plain chrome. This is a killer (sorry Randy Snoddy-I know that's your term!). Has action like an electric, cool black to yellow to black sunburst on back of neck. Changed keys to vintage style Klusons. Picked up from my friend Ben Elder of KPFK's Wildwood Flower radio show: 7:00am to 8:00am Saturdays. Finest bluegrass and roots music you'll ever hear. Also Ben is THE expert on Weissenborn guitars and their imitators.
Dell Arte' - This is their gypsy model guitar called the Anouman. This is styled after the Macafferri guitar made famous by Django Reinhardt. It has walnut back and sides with a close grained spruce top. Has the large D soundhole with amazing action, projection and sound. Lastly a Big Tone pickup. This also initiated my friendship with Alain Cola of Dell Arte' Guitars. Alain is a wonderful man and is one of the foremost proponents of Gypsy Jazz. Contact him if you would like to see one of his amazing guitars. I also can't exclude the luAnything else?
I am currently looking for like-minded musicians, vocalists, etc. to share ideas with, jam and basically do something different with.
Email me if you are in the Idyllwild area and want to talk about this:
donreed@hotmail.com
Please use "Let's Jam" as the subject line.Contact
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Comments (1)
I love the way you swing brother. Makes me want to rent out "Sweet and Lowdown" again.
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