Preston Reed

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Preston Reed


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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
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Born = April 13, 1955
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Origin = Armonk, New York, USA
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Instrumental Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Fingerstyle
Occupation = Musician, composer
Years_active = 1974–present
Label = Sky, Flying Fish, MCA, Folkstudio, Capitol Nashville, Dusty Closet, Outer Bridge
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URL = [http://www.prestonreed.com/ www.prestonreed.com]
Notable_instruments = Jacobson-Hardy guitars, Ovation Adamas, Yamaha AE-2000

Preston Reed (13 April 1955 in Armonk, New York) is a US – American fingerstyle and tapping guitarist.

Biography

Preston Reed learned guitar as a child on his father's guitar and had a short stint at classical guitar with a too-severe teacher. When he was 16 his interest was rekindled by Jorma Kaukonen's acoustic guitar-playing in Hot Tuna. He took the guitar again and began to compose own songs in the style of Leo Kottke and John Fahey. His first public gig was at Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., in concert with Allen Ginsberg. He continued recording and performing and signed his first major label record deal with MCA Records with the help of his friend Lyle Lovett. [ [http://www.prestonreed.com/bio.html Preston Reed biography at his website.] Accessed on November 25, 2007.]

Reed played with various other musicians, spanning the whole spectrum between Linda Ronstadt and rock – Band NRBQ. He was featured on American radio and TV - broadcasts. Between 1979 and 2007, he recorded 15 albums on several labels - mostly solo acoustic guitar -, guest-starred on other musicians productions, founded his own "Outer Bridge"-label and featured on two solo videos. He has been commissioned for film soundtracks and a suite of original music for the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet.

Preston Reed moved to Scotland in 2000. [http://www.prestonreed.com/releases/history_of_now.html "History Of Now", Discography at Preston Reed's website.] Accessed on November 25, 2007.]

Technique and musical influences

First-time listeners to Preston Reed find it hard to believe it's only one guitarist and his instrument. He plays with fingers, thumbs, fists and hands at once, suggesting a whole band at work: drummer, keyboardist, bassist and several guitarists at once. Some of his tunes invoke impressions of rock bands and duelling guitars, but he is also a player of blues or ballads reminiscent of Bill Evans, one of his musical idols.

As a teenager Preston Reed was influenced by Leo Kottke and John Fahey and in the beginning of his career was a fingerpicker with notable technical prowess. In the late 1980's though he developed his own, highly individual and percussive style; a short time after Michael Hedges published his first records using technically similar techniques, but creating very different music. [ [http://wm07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wnfoxqljldae Review of Reed's CD "Metal" at Allmusic Guide, by Robert Taylor.] Accessed on November 25, 2007.] He drew not only from fingerstyle, but from Rock 'n' Roll too, developing a very rhythmic drive in some of his compositions. Other pieces are very melodic and dreamy ballads.

His guitar style is characterised by the use of percussive effects he generates with both hands on various parts of the guitar body, he names them appropriately "rim shots" and "bongo hits". [http://www.prestonreed.com/releases/v_instructv.html "The Guitar of Preston Reed", Text on video cover.] Accessed on November 25, 2007.] He uses slap – and tap – techniques like slap harmonics or the generation of notes or whole chords with his left hand ("hammer-on", "pull-off"). He uses both hands for tapping ("two-hand tapping") and frets chords with his right hand ("right-hand fretting"). He often plays with both hands from above the guitar's neck. In many of his compositions Reed uses altered tunings characterized by very low bass string tunings, for example BGDGAD or CGDGGD, though he also uses standard tuning on his latest CD, "Spirit".

Guitars and technical equipment

On his first recording Reed used a Martin D28 12 String and a Martin D28 6 String. He later used guitars made by the American luthier Michael Jacobson-Hardy. [ [http://www.prestonreed.com/recordings.html Discography at Preston Reed's website.] Accessed on November 25, 2007.] Later he played Washburn-guitars with "Seymour Duncan"-pickups and in the second half of the 1990ties a custom "Adamas – Long Neck" Ovation.

Around 2000 he began using several different guitars, not only steel-string acoustic, but solid body electric guitars too, semi-acoustic guitars, electrical baritone guitars, 12-string and classical guitars.

Reed recorded his 2007 album "Spirit" with a semi-acoustic Yamaha AE-2000 guitar.

Discography

* 1979 "Acoustic Guitar" (Sky Records)
* 1982 "Pointing Up" (Flying Fish)
* 1982 "Don't Be A Stranger" (FolkStudio Records)
* 1984 "Playing By Ear" (Flying Fish)
* 1987 " The Road Less Travelled" (Flying Fish)
* 1989 "Instrument Landing" (MCA/Universal)
* 1990 "Blue Vertigo" (Capitol Nashville Master)
* 1990 "Preston Reed" (Flying Fish)
* 1991 "Halfway Home" (Liberty/Capitol Nashville)
* 1992 "Border Towns" (Liberty)
* 1995 "Metal" (Dusty Closet Records, re-released 2002 Outer Bridge)
* 1997 " Ladies Night" (Dusty Closet Records, re-released 2004 Outer Bridge)
* 2000 "Handwritten Notes" (Outer Bridge)
* 2005 "History of Now" (Outer Bridge)
* 2007 "Spirit" (Outer Bridge)

Collaborations

* 1997 "Groovemasters, Volume 1", with Laurence Juber (Solid Air Records)

Compilations

* 1989 "Universal Master Series" (MCA)
* 1990 "Master Series Sampler '89" (Capital Nashville)
* 1990 "Master Series I" (Capital Nashville)
* 1995 "Acoustic Guitar Highlights" (Acoustic Music Records)
* 1996 "Acoustic Guitar Highlights II" (Acoustic Music Records)
* 1997 "Masters of Acoustic Guitar" (Narada)
* 1997 "Acoustic Guitar Highlights III" (Acoustic Music Records)
* 2000 "WGN Radio Live: Steve and Johnnie Live After Dark" (Nation)

Video

* 1994 "The Guitar of Preston Reed: Expanding the Realm of Acoustic Playing" (Homespun Video)
* 1997 "Preston Reed in Concert" (Homespun Video)

Video, guest-starring

* 1995 "Fingerstyle Guitar: New Dimensions and Explorations" (Vestapol)
* 1996 "Muriel Anderson’s All-Star Guitar Night" (Homespun Video)
* 1997 "Laurence Juber in Concert" (Homespun Tapes)
* 1998 "Great Guitar Lessons Fingerstyle Techniques" (Homespun Tapes)
* 2002 "Muriel Anderson’s All-Star Guitar Night II" (Homespun Tapes)

Sheet music

* "Guitar Impact" (2006). Bruce Muckala (MaraHaley Music).

References

External links

* [http://www.prestonreed.com/ Preston Reed Homepage]
* [http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=REEDPRESTO Preston Reed at Millennium Center – biography and two full-length concert – videos]