Reggie Hines: Press

Wednesday, February 27, 2008


GIANT STEPS

Jazz and brunch team up in East Point

By LaTria Garnigan
South Fulton Neighbor News Editor

The sounds of jazz will fill the air in East Point Saturday.

The Jefferson Park Neighbors Association will host its Saturday Jazz Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jefferson Park Avenue Baptist Church, 1150 Jefferson Ave. in East Point.

Lisa Landers, board member of the association, said the organization is for the promotion of the community and making the neighborhood an awesome place to live.

The nonprofit organization holds a variety of social activities, fundraisers and beautification projects throughout the year.

"Every year we do two to three fundraisers, but this is our first Jazz Brunch," she said.

Admission for the event is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children and can be purchased at the door. The price includes the brunch, which will be prepared and served by association members. Proceeds will benefit the association's general fund.

For musical entertainment, attendees will listen to saxophonist Reggie Hines. He has played nationally and internationally before crowds of 10,000 as part of R&B superstar Angie Stone's touring ensemble.

Hines has also performed on the David Letterman Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Tom Joyner's Sky Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

"Always the best part of these events is bringing the community together and having everyone relax and have a good time," said Ms. Landers.

"Sometimes we get people from all over East Point to come," she said. "East Point is generally a tight knit neighborhood."

Information: (404) 388-6258 or http://jeffersonpark.org.Chris Manley/Staff

Nu-Jazz saxophonist Reggie Hines will be the entertainment for Saturday's Jazz Brunch, being sponsored by the Jefferson Park Neighbors Association.

Organization to bring jazz and brunch to neighbors.

Reggie Hines delivers keys of passion during sax battle

• New York City native Reggie Hines shares the spirit of music and the stage with Canton's Jessie Primer III and Los Angeles, Cali.

By Larissa G. Hale-- New York City native Reggie Hines will be sharing his spirit and his music and the stage with Jackson’s very own Jessie Primer III and Los Angeles, Cali. native Andre Delano at the Battle of the Saxes on July 21 at the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium, located at Jackson State University.
“I’m excited,” said Hines. “I’ve never met these guys before. I’m looking forward to jamming with them.”
Hines has an autobiographical compact disc called, “Do You See What I See”. This CD reflects the life of Hines growing up in a musical family, having a strong love for music, and how the power of music, even in incarceration for 10 years, got him to where he is today, as a successful musician, producer, and composer.
“My brothers and I played instruments. Before the sax, I was a drummer; I was in five different groups,” said Hines.
Later, Hines went to Usban Camp for the Performing Arts in Hampton, Long Island. Here, he was introduced to different styles of music, especially classical, as well as the technical side.
“There, I learned the language of music,” said Hines.
Additionally, Hines attended a high school called Talent Unlimited, which comprised of kids from all over the New York City area.
“We had our central academics in the morning. Then, we would converge in Manhattan to learn the arts, like photography, music, singing, etc.,” said Hines.
Hines added that the school used to travel performing at different gigs.
Tragically, at the age of 20, Hines’ dreams of pursuing music were cut short when he got caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Without giving details, Hines said he and his friends were stopped and arrested by police.
Hines was sentenced to 10 years - and he served all 10.Though playing music was nearly null and void for Hines, he soon became friends with an inmate, who was actually a top producer that had written some songs, while in jail, and was in need of someone to help compose the music.
“In it [jail], I earned college degrees, but my playing was limited – I missed my 20s,” said Hines. “When I finally came home, I was 30.”However, this bitter time turned sweet for Hines when the late singer Phyllis Hyman got a whiff of Hines’ talent.
Hines has worked with almost every famous singer and musician including Hyman and Angie Stone.
“I liked working with Angie because she let the musicians be who they were – she let us bring our own creativity,” said Hines.
At any rate, Hines’ album tells his story of growing up in the South Bronx and being influenced by different types of music including salsa.
“The song, ‘Cha Cha’, on the album was influenced by growing up with Puerto Ricans in the South Bronx,” said Hines.
Throughout his hardships, Hines remained strong in spirit and became more passionate about his music.
The album, “Do You See What I See”, is about Hines looking out into the world from behind bars.
“We possess an internal power, yet, we ignore our gifts because we are caught in the hype of different things,” said Hines.
Hines also said the song, “Sunrise” was about the day he came home from jail. “They woke me up at 5 a.m.,” said Hines.
All in all, this passionate saxophonist is thankful for life, and he brings positive energy wherever he goes.
“Success comes from the attitude and the energy you give off, especially in live performances,” said Hines.
Residing in Atlanta, Ga., Hines along with a group of volunteered musicians are currently teaching children about music and the music industry.

Battle of the Saxes Receives Rave Reviews

“This needs to be at least once a month,” said host Howard Ballou of WLBT-Channel 3 on July 21 at the second annual Battle of the Saxes at the Rose McCoy Auditorium at Jackson State University, which featured saxophonists Jessie Primer III, Reggie Hines, and Andre Delano.

Each artist offered original selections, captivating the audience.

“It was awesome,” said Gina Carter, membership and underwriting director for FM 88 WJSU.

Jessie Primer III jump-started the night with sentimental selections that left the females swaying.

His assistant passed out roses to some of the women in the audience; Primer came down from the stage to serenade each one who held a rose.

Women swooned over his “in the mood” entertainment.

But, it was Reggie Hines who stole the show with his versatile skills on the wind catour, an instrument that looks like a “new-age” clarinet that can produce different sounds.

Hines stunned the audience with his Jimi Hendrix rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” which he played on the wind catour.

The audience was mesmerized soprano saxophon-ing, and the production of Hendrix-like sounds.

Andre Delano got the audience out their seats with his vibrant energy and stage presence as he whipped across the stage, flirting with the women in the audience with his playing ability.


“I’m happy to be back in Jackson,” said Delano.

Overall, despite minor technical difficulties with some of the stage equipment, the musicians did not let it interfere with the energy nor their playing.

Hines and Delano pushed through their unforgettable performances despite the fact that they did not have their original band members with them.

“The event was fun,” said Carter. “Each player was speaking the truth.”
“I felt that my music was appreciated,” said Delano.

After the concert, the after-party continued at the Mississippi Museum of Art, where the artists continued their jam sessions and mingled with those that supported them and the radio station FM 88 WJSU – “the number one source for jazz.”

July 20, 2006

Battle of the Saxes: Players take the stage

The Clarion-Ledger

Atlanta's Reggie Hines is one of the three saxophone players who will battle it out at the Battle of the Saxes on Friday.

DETAILS

What: Battle of the Saxes featuring Andre Delano, Reggie Hines and Jessie Primer III.

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Where: Jackson State University Rose E. McCoy Auditorium, 1400 Lynch St., Jackson.

Tickets: Reserved seats are $20 and $35. The $35 tickets allow access to the after party at the Mississippi Museum of Art in downtown Jackson. General admission is $10. Tickets are available through any Ticketmaster location and at WJSU on Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Phone: For more information, call (601) 979-8672.

Jackson State University's "Battle of the Saxes" may not be as contenious as the age-old battle its name draws from, but it promises to be as intense.

Three talented jazz saxophone players will take the stage at Jackson State University's Rose E. McCoy Auditorium at 7 p.m. Friday.

They are 1994 JSU graduate Andre Delano, Atlanta's Reggie Hines and Canton native Jessie Primer III, and they promise to offer an evening tailored to please jazz fans of any stripe.

Here's some quick-hit bios on the trio:

ANDRE DELANO

Delano has played before crowds of 10,000 at the Superdome as part of R&B superstar Maxwell's touring ensemble.

Since his Maxwell days of touring and recording from 1996-2001, he's also become an integral part of the smooth jazz genre, recording with Chieli Minucci and performing with Jeff Lorber, Doc Powell, Bobby Lyle and Peter White to name a few.

Since the launch of his Full Circle CD released independently last June, he has distinguished himself as a front man and not just a veteran sideman.

Delano's Lorber-remixed first single Night Riders is spun on more than 40 stations nationwide.

REGGIE HINES

Hines has performed on the David Letterman Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres Show and Tom Joyner's Sky Show and at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and Bermuda Jazz Festival.

Hines wrote hit tunes for the late Phyllis Hyman including the song, When You Get Right Down to It, nominated for the best R&B song of the year.

He also has written songs for Gerald Alston and Chaka Khan.

Hines is currently working on his debut CD, Do You See What I See.

JESSIE PRIMER III

Primer, a tenor and soprano sax man, is a native of Canton. Primer attended Alcorn State and Jackson State universities majoring in music education.

He has performed and worked with many acclaimed artists, among them B.B. King, Bobby Jones, Willie Clayton, Cassandra Wilson, Susan Lee Price, Tonya Youngblood, Eddie Harris and Rhonda Richmond.

He has displayed his talent in Europe, including stops in Bosnia, Hungary, Macedonia and London.

Recently, he and his jazz group were named Jazz Group of the Year at the Jackson Music Awards.

His current Yuric Records release is When I Think Of You.