Albert Reda

"Albert is an all round player and he really fits into whatever the concept is. I always look forward to playing with him, because he's always right there and we both have the same interest in music; what music's about and how it should sound. And he's just a great guy to be around!" --- Terry Robb

"Albert is a very versatile and dependable performer His execution, his vocal talents and his steadiness are a positive reflection on his professionalism. He's a great guy to play next to and reliable every time he takes the stage." --- Carlton Jackson

Sometimes it's hard to get much recognition these days playing the Blues unless you're playin' smokin' guitar and singin' you're tail off. Being part of the rhythm section of a band can kinda be like playing guard or tackle on a football team; important, but not a position that garners the accolades! Bassman extraordinaire, Albert Reda doesn't worry too much about the admiration of playing music, he's more concerned with just playing the kind of music he's learned to love so fervently over the years, the Blues. Local fans have recognized that quality in Albert's performances and have found him to be an integral part of the groups he performs with. In 1996, 1997 and again in 1998, the members of the Cascade Blues Association have honored Albert Reda with the CBA's "Muddy Award" for "Best Bass" player. A fitting tribute to his talent and ability as a Blues musician here in the Northwest. And, by winning the award three years consecutively in the same category, Albert qualified and has been inducted into the CBA "Muddy Award Hall Of Fame".

"It kinda blew my mind winning the "Muddy" for the third year in a row, considering the kind of bass players that are in this town" states Albert. "I just think it's a reflection of who I play with really: Terry Robb, Alan Hager and Carlton Jackson." Those three players along with Albert make up The Terry Robb Band that plays each Wednesday night at Portland's legendary Candlelight Cafe & Bar. It's really interesting to note that all four players in that band won individual "Muddy Awards" this year and now both Terry (Robb) and Albert are in the "Hall Of Fame".

Much of the time Albert plays acoustically with Terry as The Terry Robb Duo (or Trio when they use a drummer). Both Terry and Albert also back "Muddy Award" winner, and W. C. Handy Award nominee, Sheila Wilcoxson, when she plays her dates. Albert is one rhythm man that, because of his talents, has risen to the top playing with some of the finest Blues talents around. He even occasionally plays with the "Muddy Award" winning Bill Rhoades & The Party Kings. Albert relates, "It's great fun to be able to do all these things and play with all this award winning talent - I love it! Man, there are just so many fine bass players in town. There's Dave Kahl, Phil Haxton and Willie Barber's a monster who's back with Monti Amundson playin' now. Then there's (John) Mazzacco, Jimmy Solberg and, of course, the other CBA "Hall Of Famer", Jimmy Lloyd Rea.

Albert started playing bass about 20 years ago when he was in his mid-20s. Prior to that, he played electric piano, guitar and sang. He grew up in Philadelphia and moved to San Francisco in 1973, shortly after high school. He played in garage Rock bands and different groups in Philly, but when he came out to San Francisco he eventually got into playing Rhythm & Blues and Soul music. Albert continues, "The R&B band was called MVP and I became their bass player. Before that, I was in a '50s group, a show-band called Crusin'. I sang and that was my first steady gig as a bassman. That was about 1980 through the mid-80's. We traveled a lot, it was the "Happy Days" era stuff. We got all greased up and leathered up and played car shows, trade shows, conventions and parties, stuff like that.

I moved out to San Francisco basically because my girl friend at the time was starting to go to San Francisco State University and I had visited the West Coast before and liked it, so I needed a change of pace and moved out with her. I was workin' day jobs and playin' music at night. When Cruisin' burned out, I moved on to the R&B band MVP and played with them until 1988."

While in San Francisco, Albert met his wife, April, and they had their first son while they were there. Longing for a better life for their family than the hustle bustle of the City, Albert, April and their son moved to Portland in 1988. Portland is where April was from. Albert recalls, "I wasn't really looking to get back into playing' music up here. I was in my mid-30s and I didn't know if I really wanted to play clubs and knock around like that. I was looking for work as a wallpaper hanger (the old family trade). Then I kind of fell into the Blues scene in town. There were a lot of jams goin' on around then and I'd just go out to them for fun. One day, I just happened to be out at the old Cactus Club in North Portland for one of their Sunday afternoon Blues jams, I played a couple of tunes and sang a couple of tunes and Jim Mesi came up to me and introduced himself and told me he really liked my singing and loved my playing. He had just hired a new bass player, Craig Larson, but he said he'd tell a couple of people about me. A few weeks after that, Chris Miller of the old Rockin' Razorbacks and Terraplanes fame, called me for his new group The Channel Cats. Jeff Minnick was on drums and Jim Wallace was on harp and vocals. That was a good band. We even won The "Muddy Award" that year for "Best New Act". That was 1992, but the band only lasted for about a year because Chris left to play music in Austin, Texas and eventually Jeff followed.

After that I played with Steamy Windows for a while and got to play with Paulette Davis for a short time while they were in between bass players. Paulette was great and Sonny (Hess) was too and I would have loved to have kept that gig except for the fact that Terry (Robb) had called me to play some gigs with him. Playing with Terry looked like it might be a better fit for me and it has been. I love him to death. Terry's become a great friend. We've been together for over five years now. We've spent a lot of time together in the car going to gigs and things. We get along really well. It's turned out to be a great thing for me and it's been an education too because up to that point I was hip to Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf and people like that, but through Terry, and Alan too, they turned me on to the "artform" of Blues. It's been great fun for me and working with Terry as an acoustic duo, has turned me on to a lot of great Blues artists like Bukka White, Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightin' Hopkins and a whole host of other legendary Bluesmen. A lot of the music those guys played, there was no bass on it. I've tried to figure a way to fit it into that vintage stuff we cover."

Albert plays both electric bass and acoustic upright bass, but he didn't start playin' the upright until he joined The Channel Cats. He took a lesson from a fantastic player here in town, Phil Baker. Then he just kind of took it from there, developing his own style. He's been playing upright bass basically in the duo and trio format with Terry. He likes the authenticity it adds to the acoustic vintage Blues material they concentrate on with the duo. On the road he sometimes uses an acoustic Guild bass guitar because it is so much easier to handle than the upright. The Terry Robb Duo has been playing every Tuesday night at The Rock Creek Tavern.

Albert Reda at the Waterfront Blues Festival

Albert doesn't just limit himself to one or two kinds of music. He likes a lot of different styles and different performers. He explains, "I'm all over the place, 'cause I've got a 13 year old son. I hear a lot of Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails and all that kinda stuff that he's into. But, on his wish list for Christmas were some Retro stuff like "Fresh Cream", Jimi Hendrix and The White Album. However, I hear a lot of the contemporary and alternative stuff through him. I listen to a lot of Delta Blues because I'm still really learning that music. I'm trying to absorb as much of that as I can. Both Terry and Alan, and Bill Rhoades too, steer me in the right direction with that type of Blues. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of classical music. My wife likes Vivaldi. I love Sinatra also. I've got most of Frank's stuff on CD.

When I was a little kid my dad would play the Big Band stuff around the house. Artie Shaw was his favorite, but he also liked Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. He liked the singers too: Sinatra, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, singers like that. So, I was exposed to some of the really classic performers at an early age. Nobody in my family played music except my grandfather. He lived with us until I was 14. He played piano and guitar by ear. He played a lot of Ragtime stuff. I was captivated and he taught me to play by ear also. I took piano lessons for a short time, but I hated the structure.

Basically, I love all kinds of music. I have a hard time understanding people who only like one kind of music. I'm trying to make sure my kids are exposed to many different styles of music like I was. Why would anyone want to deprive themselves from enjoying any kind of music?

Albert has slowly been working on his own recording which Terry is producing. There's a half dozen tracks laid down now with him singing. Some tracks have just he and Terry playing and some they have added Carlton on drums. He's about half way done with the project now and hopes very much to finish it up relatively soon. One of the tracks has been slated for the upcoming CBA "Hall Of Fame" Tribute CD which is scheduled for release this summer. That recording will contain one song from each of the 13 inductees in the CBA's "Hall Of Fame". The monies from the sale of that CD will go towards the Christopher Mesi Scholarship Fund and the other projects the CBA supports.

Albert concludes, "I'm very fortunate to be playing with the musicians I'm working with. Carlton (Jackson) is an incredible drummer. He's so knowledgeable and musical. When he plays with our four-piece band we really become more of an orchestra, because we've got a conductor behind the drums. Everything's dynamic, it's like instant arrangement even without a rehearsal. He's so intuitive. I love playing with him. Alan (Hager) is such a generous musician. I've learned a lot from him. He's a music teacher by profession. He's an incredible guitarist too. And, Terry what a genius he is; a multi-dimensional talent; a singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and the best acoustic guitar player I've ever heard. Like I said before, he's become a friend. These guys make me a better musician!

I feel so lucky I can make my living playing music. My wife works a day job at Portland Public Schools. I have a few other things going, teaching and a Wednesday gig at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Northeast Portland where I play piano for the youth choir. It's a good life! All I can say is that I'm very fortunate, indeed!"

Albert Reda

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