Bowl and Bunns
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Bowl and Bunns

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Billboard song winner!"

Song Title December 21 wins Billboard World Song Contest 2004 in Jazz category. - King Reeves


"Super Bad Review"

Bowl and Bunns is comprised of Cincinnati Jazz giants King “Bowl” Reeves and Charlie “Bunns” Wilson. Super Bad is a collection of deceptively simple piano and vibe duets and it is a surprisingly engaging fare. Reeves and Wilson conjure complex chord clusters throughout the disc, even ringing a rough edge out of a Grover Washington tune. Reeve’s is understated and tasteful when stating a melody. But when he launches into a solo, his vibes are suddenly bubbling, unpredictable and sparkling with spontaneity like a pretty woman’s laughter. On the piano, Charlie Wilson is a masterful yet untethered technician whose extended improvisations are wildly adventurous. He regularly deconstructs the key and rhythm of a tune, his hands wandering feverishly across the breadth of the keyboard, unrestricted by rules, theory or expectations. Reeves and Wilson’s original compositions are provocative and strong, holding up quite well alongside some familiar and well-executed standards by Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk and others. Over the years, these two highly accomplished gentlemen have played with some of the best. And now the sum of their experiences flows freely through their hands, spilling forth with a glowingly positive life force that is immediately apparent even on first listen (Review: Ric Hickey, City Beat Magazine,2005). - City Beat Magazine


"Super Bad is Super Good!"



Super Bad is Super Good

When handed a copy of a new CD entitled Super Bad it’s easy to ask, “So, what are the James Brown covers?” Decades have passed James Brown’s album with the same name was released, and 2005’s Super Bad features jazz musicians rather than funk musicians, but it’s difficult, when confronted with such an iconic title, not to wonder—especially when you live in Cincinnati, where the original Super Bad was released and where vibraphonist King Reeves and pianist Charles Wilson recorded a record that echoes that title—if their CD will summon up the spirits of King Records past.
The short answer: no James Brown covers. Instead Super Bad, which primarily consists of originals, delves into songbooks by the likes of Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver. The spirits King Reeves and Charles Wilson summon up are bebop spirits that were lurking around decades before the original Super Bad was put to wax. When Silver and Monk (and Coltrane, and Miles) performed in Cincinnati, Reeves and Wilson were already playing jazz. And while Reeves and Wilson never became jazz icons, their relative anonymity works to their advantage on Super Bad: instead of catering to a larger and more conservative record label, Reeves and Wilson take chances, which has always been a part of the real jazz tradition.
And the longer answer: on “Super Bad” James Brown sings I got soul/And I’m super bad, and if soul had anything to do with superbadness, then King Reeves and Charles Wilson have earned that label in spades. Always unpredictable, their duets turn many an imaginative corner, with crashes and skirmishes following on the heels of introspective melodies and dark, minor key film noire-like melodies giving way to sunny harmonies—but no matter where this music goes, it remains soulful. You may not jump up and dance to this music, but—to quote another jazz icon, Ornette Coleman—you’ll end up dancing in your head.
Super Bad is late night music and early morning music, but cocktail music it’s not. It’s too witty for that, and too imaginative, and too soulful. So don’t be confused by the title: Super Bad is super good.






- Jeff Wilson


Discography

Comfort Zones, 2001
Passions, 2004
Dynamic Duo, 2005
Available to sample and purchase @ CD Baby.com

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

BOWL & BUNNS are made up of King 'Bowl' Reeves and Charlie 'Bunns' Wilson. Both musicians were born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and together have over 75 years in the music industry.

On Vibes....
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, King L. Reeves, Jr. - affectionately known as "Fruitbowl" - has built up a career, and a national reputation, as a top-tier vibraphonist. And, it wouldn't be unfair to say it's in his blood!

"My father was a guitarist and banjo player during the Cotton Club days. The sound of music always filled the house. I was around ten years old when I heard Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson play. I knew I wanted to play the Vibraphone. I couldn't afford a set of vibes, so I played the drums during my school years."

"I met and befriended a recording artist by the name of John Godfrey, a vibe and piano player. I studied theory and harmony at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and I managed to purchase a used set of vibes during this time. I began jamming and gigging around town at the local bars."

During the 1970's Cincinnati was a great and active "Jazz" city and Reeves opened a coffeehouse with three other musicians. "Our coffee house stayed open until 2:30AM. Some of the greats of Jazz would stop by after their gigs ended and jammed with us."

During this time Reeves played with Miles Davis, Milt Jackson, Sonny Stitt, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Eddie Harris - to name just a few. Reeves has worked with nearly every Cincinnati jazz musician as well as recording with bands such as Bootsy Collins and Roundtrip Ticket. Mr. Reeves was a guest artist with the 17"th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert in Boston. He has booked a number of engagements with national performers, including the Duke Ellington Big Band, The O'Jays and The Ohio Players and Roger. Bowl has also performed a tribute to Miles Davis and the late Milt Jackson.

Reeves is now working in a duo format, Bowl and Bunns, performing with Charlie "Bunns" Wilson. They have released two CD's, Comfort Zones and Passions - Live at the Greenwich.

Reeves Offered, "If you have been in music as long as I have it's hard to list all of your musical experiences... I'd rather let the music speak for itself...."

On Piano....
Charlie "Bunns" Wilson comes from a very musical family. His mother played piano professionally throughout the Greater Cincinnati area in the 1940's and 1950's, and his brother was a member of the great Ray Charles Band. One could say the boy’s got music in his soul.

Bunns has touched bases with such musical greats as Art Blakely, Roland Kirk, Ornet Coleman, Sonny Stitt and others. Locally, he also leads his own bands. His collaboration with Bowl is as natural as pie and ice cream - Bowl and Bunns.

We could get into calling all the names that Bunns has worked with, but that's not necessary. All one has to do is just listen to him - the Cat is Bad! Charlie once told a story about one of the most important things he can remember while working on the road with Roland Kirk is what Roland told him about always keeping the music in front of everything and ask that it will be blessed. One listens to Bunns - and you know just that.

Bunns left the music business until a few years ago, when he was united to work with King 'Bowl' Reeves to work on their musical collaboration, Comfort Zones. Since then it has been a fantastic roll with concert gigs and a second CD, Passions - Bowl and Bunns with Friends Live at the Greenwich.