Reuben Reeves

At one stage in the later ’20s, Reuben Reeves was one of the most exciting trumpeters in jazz, although his superstar shortly faded. After playing locally within the Midwest, he transferred to NY in 1924. The next calendar year, Reeves relocated to Chicago, and in 1926 he joined up with Erskine Tate’s orchestra. He documented with Fess Williams and caused Dave Peyton during 1928-1930, but most of all led some record schedules in 1929 along with his Tributaries and his River Children; sidemen included his sibling Gerald Reeves on trombone and the fantastic clarinetist Omer Simeon. Reuben Reeves acquired a outrageous extroverted style which was a bit like what Roy Eldridge would create a few years afterwards. Reeves was with Cab Calloway’s orchestra during 1931-1932, and in 1933 came back to Chicago and arranged his River Children for one last program. He toured along with his very own group during 1933-1935, freelanced for a couple years, served using the Military during World Battle II (leading an Military band), and joined up with Harry Dial’s Blusicians in 1946. His last couple of years had been largely spent beyond music. An RST Compact disc has most of Reuben Reeves’ recordings being a head.