With a musical career spanning more than thirty-five years, guitarist and sonic
innovator Tim Reynolds is known for his masterful command of melody and timing and
for his uncanny ability to improvise on any instrument he touches. Having explored
most musical styles, from rock, jazz and blues to classical and reggae, Reynolds’
wide-ranging musical versatility is evident each time he picks up his acoustic or
electric guitar. Technically brilliant, yet emotionally honest, Reynolds’ music
is inspired and authentic.
Tim Reynolds was born 15 December 1957 in Wiesbaden, Germany, to devoutly religious
military parents. He had a peripatetic childhood, moving from Alaska and through
much of the Bible-belt Midwest, eventually settling in St. Louis, MO. His musical
introduction began at age eight with piano lessons, but he quickly progressed to
playing the acoustic guitar and electric bass guitar in the local church gospel
band during his teens. During this time he was also secretly experimenting and riffing
with forbidden rock, funk and soul. Upon graduating from high school, Reynolds left
the constraints of his conservative upbringing and eventually moved to Charlottesville,
VA, where he explored his musical craft even further, adding psychedelic and progressive
rock to his burgeoning repertoire of music.
It was in the mid 1980s that Reynolds founded his breakthrough electric power trio,
TR3 (Tim Reynolds Trio), known for their fusion of funk, rock, and jazz. He toured
with TR3 during the 1980s and 1990s, using a rotating cast of musicians. It was
at this time he met and befriended Dave Matthews and their ongoing musical collaboration
began. He eventually decided to disbanded TR3, relocate to Santa Fe, NM, and pursue
his solo acoustic career. During the 1990s and 2000s, his musical progression continued
throughout his many years on the road as a solo guitar wizard playing for packed
houses and to crowds who quickly determined that he is one of the most talented
and thoughtful musicians on the circuit today.
After a number of years in New Mexico, Reynolds relocated to the Outer Banks of
North Carolina in 2007. After a chance meeting with two talented musicians, bass
player Mick Vaughn and drummer Dan Martier, a few rehearsals later, and several
stealth appearances throughout North Carolina, Reynolds decided to resurrect the
electric TR3. TR3 has been touring ever since, and in 2009 they released their first
studio CD “Radiance.” A live TR3 CD is scheduled for release in 2011. He continues
to surprise and delight his fans with rare acoustic performances throughout the
country.
Reynolds discography is more than prolific. He continues to release a large number
of acoustic and electric CDs, from the widely-acclaimed “Stream” to his recently-released
acoustic “The Limbic System” and collaborates frequently with other musicians on
a number of side projects.
Reynolds is currently lead guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band and performs as
one-half of the acoustic Dave Matthews-Tim Reynolds duo. He has performed on nearly
all of DMB’s CDs.