The Great Barrier Reefs

Artist Information

Biography

Fresh off the release of their second record Live in Middle Tennessee, The Great Barrier Reefs are a Nashville based act that has been turning heads since 2009. As a steel drum fronted funk fusion group, the Reefs blend the island native steel pan with contemporary funk rhythms and jazz harmony to provide entertainment to both listeners and dancers. Highlights from their 2012 tours include performing at Columbus Jazz and Ribs Festival, Ya Maka My Weekend Festival, Nashville Fringe Festival, and Bowling Green International Festival.

As an electric band, the Reefs appeal to a wide variety of music lovers: from jazz fanatics to jam-heads, rockers to hip-hoppers, the Reefs deliver a sincere and captivating performance of their music. Led by Tony Hartman, on steel pan and keys, the Reefs are made up of five young men brought together by their musical education in the Nashville area. Along with Hartman, the Reefs include Taylor Lonardo, on bass and audio production, Josh Dunlap, on saxophone, Matthew Heller, drums, and Rheal Janelle on guitar.

In 2013, the Reefs plan for another year of touring surrounding the release of a new studio record as well as their silent film score for Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog”.

Tony Hartman - steel pan, keyboard
Josh Dunlap - saxophones
Rheal Janelle - guitar
Taylor Lonardo - bass
Matt Heller - drums

guest vocals:
Skylar Gregg

“Catchy melodies and hooks abound and bring back memories of the many talented players and groups that flowed through and grew out of the best of Miles Davis' 1968-75 era ensembles, including the work of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Pete Cosey, Dave Holland and John Mahavishnu McLaughlin. It sure sounds to me like many of the best influences from that whole trajectory march on boldly on this album…”
RDJMS “Indulgent Reader” – Amazon review from Phoenix, AZ

Instrumentation

Tony Hartman - keyboard, Steel Pan
Josh Dunlap - Saxophones
Rheal Janelle - Guitar
Taylor Lonardo - Bass
Matt Heller - Drums

Discography

Live in Middle Tennessee
Finding Time - April 2011

Official Website

http://www.thegreatbarrierreefs.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• The Great Barrier Reefs

Audio

• To The Bridge Burners (Live)
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• Play It Cool Feat. Skylar Gregg
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• In Transit (Live)
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• Matt's Birthday (Live)
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• Pasando Por Las Calles
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Lyrics

• Play It Cool ft. Skylar Gregg

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Booty Band with Great Barrier Reefs [+ Show ]
  

  "The Great Barrier Reefs will be providing the opening support for tonight’s show and require your e..."The Great Barrier Reefs will be providing the opening support for tonight’s show and require your early attendance at 9 p.m. sharp people! If you’ve never heard of the Murfreesboro-based group, then you’re in for a treat. Honestly one of my favorite local groups due to lead singer Tony Hartman’s use of the steel pan." - Rob

• Live In Middle Tennessee CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  "The Great Barrier Reefs have created a distinctly unique and gorgeous sound in the world of music t..."The Great Barrier Reefs have created a distinctly unique and gorgeous sound in the world of music today. They have done so by combining lively steel pan driven rhythms fused together with jazz, funk and world music and creating some soul-stirring grooves. The good vibrations that emanate from this band and their music are infectious"
  - Lauren Steen, Everything Music Magazine (Oct 4, 2012)

• Great Barrier Reefs CD Release [+ Show ]
  

  "And we’ll be damned if The Great Barrier Reefs aren’t the smoothest band on the block. Or in the ci..."And we’ll be damned if The Great Barrier Reefs aren’t the smoothest band on the block. Or in the city. Maybe even the state...we couldn’t be more excited for the new album Live in Middle Tennessee"

• Chicago, IL [+ Show ]
  

  They also had SouthSide enjoying the spirited compositions of unspoken "lyrics" in which she found h...They also had SouthSide enjoying the spirited compositions of unspoken "lyrics" in which she found herself listening closely to the shared "vocal" banter between the steep pan and saxophone with the rest of the band as "backing vocals". This reviewer also liked how The Reefs continuously kept the good vibrations flowing without breaking the contagious music momentum surrounding its audience... This reviewer highly recommends planning to party under the cool jazz-pan sounds by The Great Barrier Reefs this summer especially when they travel to Atlanta in the coming weeks

• CD Review from Phoenix, AZ [+ Show ]
  

  Catchy melodies and hooks abound and bring back memories of the many talented players and bands that...Catchy melodies and hooks abound and bring back memories of the many talented players and bands that flowed through and grew out of the best of Miles Davis' 1968-75 bands, including the work of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Pete Cosey, Dave Holland and John Mahavishnu McLaughlin. It sure sounds to me like many of the best influences from that whole trajectory march on boldly on this album which manages, somehow, to bring all that cream forward freshly.

• CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  Finding Time is an excellent and well executed melodic getaway of skilled musicianship ... This is a...Finding Time is an excellent and well executed melodic getaway of skilled musicianship ... This is an absolute must-have and welcome addition to any diverse music lover’s collection

• CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  Finding Time is an excellent and well executed melodic getaway of skilled musicianship ... This is a...Finding Time is an excellent and well executed melodic getaway of skilled musicianship ... This is an absolute must-have and welcome addition to any diverse music lover’s collection

Setlist

Originals:
Finding Time
To The Bridge Burners
Gratitude
Pasando Por Las Calles
In Transit
Matt's Birthday
You Gotta Cheer Up, Debbie
Castilla
CB Radio
Couch Sleeper

Recent Covers:

"No Diggity" Blackstreet
"Fantasy" Ludacris
"Bulls On Parade" Rage Against The Machine
"Whoop! There It Is" Tag Team
"Bust A Move" Young MC
"Red Baron" Billy Cobham
"Peaches In Regalia" Frank Zappa
"The Chicken" Jaco Pastorius
"Spain" Chick Corea
"Mr. Magic" Grover Washington Jr.

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Stage Plot / Input List

Calendar