Gil Reynolds Trio
June 30, 2008
The Marquee reads: "Sunday June fifteenth, eight p.m.-The Gil Reynolds Trio-" The Alberta Public House. The Alberta Public house is located on 1028 N.E. Alberta. A lot of young, out-of-state hip seekers have flocked to this area to buy the old neighborhood and set up shop.
The Alberta Public House is an Irish Pub operated by an Irishman named Mike Beglan. The day was so beautiful, most people were outside. There is a small but eager audience awaiting this superb trio. The crowd is ready to wax philosophic the acoustic symmetry and sympathetic vibrations that this trio can deliver.
The GRT recently played at the Crystal Ballroom for Gary Ewing (hippie light show celebrity who recently died), but tonight they are at the helm of this soft moon's sprite litany of musical joy. The Alberta Public House has yielded the stage to these-out-of-towners (as the owner Michael Beglan mans the P.A.).
Reynolds is from the Oregon wheatfields where the majestic rivers sing to the black-caped star-spray and musicians play long and happily beneath the nighttime's endless canopy. This writer quickly recognized Reynolds as a former Monmouth (O.C.E.) guitar player (circa 1973) when Reynolds developed and interpreted covers such as Jimi Hendrix' All Along The Watch Tower and Quick Silver's Fresh Air in a very smooth and distinctive way.
Reynolds has always been a master of the California acoustic/electric suave. He is in the ranks with such locals as Dan Linn, Billy Kennedy and Steve Bradley when it comes to putting together and arranging a tight, functional, charming, guitar outfit. It is easy to see The Gil Reynolds Trio becoming a regular at places like the Laurelthirst Tavern and McMenamin's. Reynold's ability to organize a band and develop cool arrangements goes back to the early '70s when this writer first saw him rehearsing in his small apartment in Monmouth. Reynolds lives in Newberg as of late.
The trio is gearing up for a big Turkey-Rama show in McMinnville in July. Weddings, openings, special events and festivals are also blooming on the horizon.
The Gil Reynolds Trio formed through jam sessions in Newberg. In Portland, Reynolds is currently playing at the Muddy Rudder and The East Side Bar. Reynolds says the line up on stage has all been together for three years. The players all around this troubadour-extraodinaire are Cliff Jetton on trumpet and flugelhorn; Robert Lebvre on bass; and Miguel Lyons Carvos on percussion and drums.
Reynolds cites Django and John Prine as influences, but one can also hear shades of It's A Beautiful Day, Steve Miller (especially in the vocals), Mark Allman, Santana, Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds, Spanish guitar riffs and sometimes Chet Baker on the soft horn numbers. A fan quips, "They are fun to watch and easy to listen to."
Reynolds writes 60 percent of the material performed and 100 percent of the songs on their CD, aptly titled, The Gil Reynolds Trio. Reynolds tells this writer that he has been a member and supporter of The Portland Songwriters for five years and brought in such locals as country writer Craig Caruthers, as well as national acts.
Although Reynolds' main job has always been fusing beautiful glass works, he has also played music in a Vegas showband as well as a southern rock group called Diamond Back. He has also played at the Bite Of Oregon.
One of the songs this writer caught was a John Prine cover Angel From Montgomery; the drummer made it swing in a Grateful Dead kind of way. Joe Cocker, who also reinvents covers, also comes to mind. Reynolds sang Angel From Montgomery in a stronger more virtuoso way than John Prine and a little Dave Mason in the vocal inflections was heard, as well as a hint of John Mellencamp. An original song by Reynolds, that grooved in a more jazzy vein, sounded a bit like Dave Mathews.
The Gil Reynolds Trio has a crisp-acoustic-shuffle-kind-of style that is highlighted by cool horn lines, tight bass bops and tasteful drum work.
Mike Beglan's Alberta Pub is a great place to find the slick city groove that will help launch the GRT in this area and let people discover this hep group. For more information, check out www.gilreynolds3.com or MySpace.com, ad and Bandstand this issue.