The
Gil Reynolds Trio
Gil Reynolds
(acoustic and electric guitars, harp, keyboards, vocals)
“Writing songs and playing in bands is what I have been doing since the 5th grade,” says Gil, who formed the Gil Reynolds Trio in 2006 with veteran musicians George Edmonston Jr. and Cliff Jetton. He was playing guitar before the Beatles, but their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show inspired him to form his first band, The Shining. During high school he played in a folk-inspired group called The Newcomers and co-wrote and recorded the opening and closing jingles for the Salem, Oregon, Meier & Frank department store.
Coffee house appearances helped pay for his time as an art major – music minor at the University of Oregon. Inspired by Dylan, The Youngbloods, Moody Blues and Joni Mitchell, his songwriting reflected the spirit of the 60’s. Transferring to Western Oregon State College in Monmouth, Gil played jazz in the school stage band and spent most weekends playing rock and roll in several house bands in nearby Dallas.
In 1974 he joined a touring band in Florida which soon became the Starliters behind Joey D of "Peppermint Twist" fame. After a year on the road, he returned to Monmouth and joined Diamondback, a Southern Rock-inspired band he still performs with on occasion.
Employing a style which blends elements of blues, rock, jazz and folk, Gil's songwriting took a more serious turn when he moved to Portland in 1982. “This is when I really started to study the craft aspect of songwriting,” he says. “So many writers feel every word they put on a piece of paper is sacred, but when you study other successful song writers, you soon realize you may have to write 50 really good verses just to get three great ones.”
Moving to Newberg in 1997, Gil has performed regularly at festivals and private events as a solo act and with Kickapoo Pounce and Diamond Jones. In 2000, Gil released his “On The Way Home” CD of original music as his alter ego–testament JONES. At the same time he became a board member of the Portland Songwriters Association. As a Seminar Coordinator, he has brought to PDX professional songwriters such as Craig Carothers, Wendy Waldman and Steve Seskin.
At the Sunday night blues jams in downtown Newberg, Gil connected with many of the area musicians. “There have been more than a fair share of magic moments on that stage,” he says. “There are so many really talented people in town and jam hosts Myron Leroy and Dan Seymour really set a tone that allows great things to happen. This is where I met Cliff and George and when we play together it just feels right. It's really a treat to see how these gifted players interpret my songs. They give them a life that transcends my original concepts while staying true to the spirit and soul of the songs.”
George Edmonston Jr.
(Fender bass, harmony vocals)
George is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and worked the clubs, festivals and private parties of his home state for 16 years before moving to Oregon in 1986.
Back home, he performed with Louisiana blues greats Raful Neal, Kenny Neal, Silas Hogan, Guitar Kelly, Rudy Richard and James Johnson--the latter two as original members of Slim Harpo's band in the 1950's--and perfected his bass chops in some of south Louisiana's best-known blues clubs, including Phil Brady's, the Pair-A-Dice Club, Chucky's and the legendary Tabby's Blues Box.
After moving to Oregon, George joined J.C. Rico and the Armed and Dangerous Blues Band in Portland, spent several years leading a house band at the Peacock in Corvallis, then turned in seven years with Gary Burford's Power Trio in Salem, appearing on the group's successful first CD, "You're Gonna See." The Power Trio frequently served as back-line band to many of the blues luminaries of the Northwest, including Duffy Bishop, Paul deLay, Lloyd Jones, Patrick Lamb, Robbie Laws, Monty Amundson, Norman Sylvester, Boyd Small and Terry Robb. From 2002-2005, George played a number of casual gigs with The Kingsmen and worked for eight months with the Richard Day-Reynolds Band. He appears on Richard's second CD, "It's Not Easy." A brief stint with Portland's ever-popular Papa Salty followed.
George has appeared at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival and has performed in opening acts for Little Charlie and the Nightcats and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In April 2000, George served as band leader for Ken Morrill's "Tribute to Roy Orbison" show at the WildHorse Casino and Resort in Pendleton.
Cliff Jetton
(trumpet, cornet, harmony vocals)
Cliff moved to Portland in the early 80's from San Jose, California, for what was supposed to be a few quick years of college. Somehow, Oregon (and one of Oregon's lovely ladies) claimed him for good and he is now a permanent member of both the state and its burgeoning music scene.
In addition to the Gil Reynolds Trio, Cliff freelances as jazz session player. In the past he has played classic rock and soul with the Joseph Konty and thestillLifeband and the Relics, combo jazz with Mocha Java, and big band jazz with the Jazz Express, all in and around Portland.
The Gil Reynolds Trio Bio.