Bill Reichenbach
Encyclopedia
William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (born November 20, 1949 in Takoma Park, Maryland
) is an American
jazz trombonist and composer. He is the son of Bill Reichenbach who was the drummer for Charlie Byrd
from 1962 to 1973. He is best known as a session musician for television, films, cartoons, and commercials. He also recorded a solo CD, "Special Edition", where he is featured on tenor as well as bass trombone.
He began in high school playing for various bands in the Washington, D. C. area. He also sat in with his father's group where he played with Milt Jackson
, Zoot Sims
, and others. Reichenbach went on to study at the Eastman School of Music
and on graduating joined the "Buddy Rich
band." He would also work in the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
in Los Angeles
in the mid/late '70s. After that move he became known for music for television and film.
He played trombone on The Wiz
and, with the Seawind (band)
and Jerry Hey
on Michael Jackson
's albums : Off the Wall
, Thriller
and HIStory
.
His first TV or film project of interest might be playing trombone on Michael Jackson
's Thriller (music video)
. He also acted as a composer for Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
.
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz trombonist and composer. He is the son of Bill Reichenbach who was the drummer for Charlie Byrd
Charlie Byrd
Charlie Lee Byrd was a famous and versatile American guitarist born in Suffolk, Virginia. His earliest and strongest musical influence was Django Reinhardt, the famous gypsy guitarist. Byrd became the American guitarist who best understood and played Brazilian music, especially the Bossa Nova genre...
from 1962 to 1973. He is best known as a session musician for television, films, cartoons, and commercials. He also recorded a solo CD, "Special Edition", where he is featured on tenor as well as bass trombone.
He began in high school playing for various bands in the Washington, D. C. area. He also sat in with his father's group where he played with Milt Jackson
Milt Jackson
Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
, Zoot Sims
Zoot Sims
John Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and soprano.-Biography:He was born in Inglewood, California, the son of vaudeville performers Kate Haley and John Sims. Growing up in a performing family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age...
, and others. Reichenbach went on to study at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
and on graduating joined the "Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
band." He would also work in the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
The Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band was a 16 piece jazz big band created by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and tenor saxophone / flutist Lew Tabackin in Los Angeles in 1973. In 1982 the principals moved from Los Angeles to New York city and re-formed the group with new members under the name,...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in the mid/late '70s. After that move he became known for music for television and film.
He played trombone on The Wiz
The Wiz
The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
and, with the Seawind (band)
Seawind (band)
Seawind was a jazz fusion group from Hawaii, featuring lead singer Pauline Wilson. They recorded two albums for CTI Records, one for A&M Records and one for A&M subsidiary Horizon Records...
and Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Thriller and the distinctive flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit Longer....
on Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's albums : Off the Wall
Off the Wall (album)
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, released August 10, 1979 on Epic Records, after Jackson's critically well received film performance in The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to...
, Thriller
Thriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
and HIStory
HIStory
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is the ninth studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson, released on June 16, 1995 by Epic Records. The majority of the album's tracks were written and produced by Jackson...
.
His first TV or film project of interest might be playing trombone on Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's Thriller (music video)
Thriller (music video)
Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 14-minute music video for the song of the same name released on December 2, 1983 and directed by John Landis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jackson....
. He also acted as a composer for Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue is an animated drug prevention television special starring many of the popular cartoon characters from American weekday, Sunday morning and Saturday morning television at the time of this film's release...
.
See also
- Jerry HeyJerry HeyJerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Thriller and the distinctive flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit Longer....