Reuben Reeves & Omer Simeon

Biography

Reuben "River" Reeves (October 25, 1905 – September 1975) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader who emerged as one of the promising trumpet-vocalists of the late 1920s. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Reeves began his professional career in 1923 with the Bill Smith Orchestra in Lexington before moving to New York City in 1924 to study dentistry. He quickly abandoned his studies to pursue music, playing with Count Basie and other local bands before relocating to Chicago in January 1925. In Chicago, Reeves joined Erskine Tate's orchestra in 1926 and subsequently played with Fess Williams and Dave Peyton (1928–1930), during which time he studied trumpet with Albert Cook, a German player in the Chicago Symphony. His most significant recording period came in 1929 when he signed to Vocalion Records and recorded 20 sides as a bandleader with his groups the Tributaries and River Boys, featuring his brother Gerald Reeves on trombone and the renowned clarinetist Omer Simeon.

Reeves was characterized as a rough and ready trumpeter with an expressive sound who took reckless chances in his playing style, though he possessed solid technical skills. His recording output included selections such as "River Blues," "Papa 'Skag' Stomp," "Bugle Call Blues," and "Moanin' Low." After his initial recording success, Reeves played under Cab Calloway in New York (1931–32) and recorded again with the River Boys in 1933 before touring as a bandleader from 1933 to 1935. Following his music career's decline, Reeves served in World War II with the 369th Infantry Band and later the Army's Jungleers band stationed in Hawaii, where they participated in Battle of the Band competitions. After the war, he worked various non-musical jobs including positions at a Post Office and Chemical Bank New York Trust Company, eventually giving up music entirely in 1955. Despite never achieving the commercial success of contemporaries like Louis Armstrong, Henry "Red" Allen, or Jabbo Smith, Reeves' exciting solos and innovative recordings deserve recognition in jazz history.

Fun Facts

• In 1929, while Reeves was playing at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Dave Peyton attempted to intimidate Louis Armstrong (who was performing across the street at the Savoy) by featuring Reeves as his 'hot trumpet player.' The strategy backfired when the audience begged Armstrong to play five encores instead.
• During World War II, Reeves led an Army band called the Jungleers stationed at the Army Jungle Training Center on the northeast coast of Oahu, Hawaii, where they became popular participants in Battle of the Band competitions that were an integral part of the extraordinary music scene in Hawaii during the war.
• Reeves' upper register trumpet tone was noted as steelier and more penetrating than Louis Armstrong's, demonstrating his distinctive technical capabilities despite his eventual obscurity in jazz history.
• All 15 of Reeves' selections as a bandleader, along with related recordings by Omer Simeon and the Dixie Rhythm Kings, were compiled onto a definitive CD by the Austrian RST Records label, making his complete output as a bandleader available on a single compact disc.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Albert Cook - German trumpet player in the Chicago Symphony who provided formal trumpet instruction to Reeves while he was performing in Chicago (Private trumpet lessons) [1926-1930]

Key Collaborators

• Omer Simeon - Great clarinetist who was a key member of Reeves' Tributaries and River Boys groups, appearing on multiple recording sessions (Tributaries/River Boys recordings including "River Blues," "Papa 'Skag' Stomp," "Bugle Call Blues," "Gotta Feelin' For You," and "Moanin' Low") [1929]
• Gerald Reeves - Reuben's brother and trombonist who performed with the Tributaries and River Boys (Tributaries/River Boys recordings) [1929]
• Jimmy Prince - Pianist in the Tributaries/River Boys ensemble (Tributaries/River Boys recordings) [1929]
• Cecil White - Guitarist in the Tributaries/River Boys ensemble (Tributaries/River Boys recordings) [1929]
• Jasper Taylor - Drummer on earlier Tributaries/River Boys sessions (Tributaries/River Boys recordings) [1929]
• Blanche Calloway - Vocalist who appeared on Reeves' recordings, notably performing on "Black And Blue" and "Have You Ever Felt That Way" ("Black And Blue," "Have You Ever Felt That Way") [1929]
• Cab Calloway - Bandleader under whom Reeves played in his orchestra in New York (Cab Calloway's orchestra) [1931-1932]
• Erskine Tate - Bandleader with whom Reeves played in Chicago before his recording career (Erskine Tate's orchestra) [1926]
• Dave Peyton - Bandleader and collaborator who featured Reeves as his hot trumpet player at the Regal Theater in 1929 (Dave Peyton's band) [1928-1930]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia