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{{peacock|date=January 2011}}
{{notability}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Dennis Rea
|Name = Dennis Rea
|image = Dennis_Rea.jpg
|Img = Dennis_Rea.jpg
|caption = Dennis Rea (photo: Anne Joiner)
|Img_capt = Dennis Rea (photo: Anne Joiner)
|image_size =
|Img_size =
|background = solo_singer
|Background = solo_singer
|Birth Name =
|Birth Name =
|alias =
|Alias =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|7|7}}
|Born = {{birth date and age|1957|7|7}}
|death_date =
|Died =
|origin = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States
|Origin = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States
|instrument = [[Guitar]]<br/>[[Piano]]<br/>[[Autoharp|Chorded zither]]<br/>[[Kalimba]]
|Instrument = [[Guitar]]<br/>[[Piano]]<br/>[[Autoharp|Chorded zither]]<br/>[[Kalimba]]
|genre = [[Jazz]]<br/>[[Experimental rock]]<br/>[[Art rock]]<br/>[[Electronic music]]<br/>[[World music]]<br/>[[Progressive rock]]<br/>[[Ambient music]]
|Genre = [[Jazz]]<br/>[[Experimental rock]]<br/>[[Art rock]]<br/>[[Electronic music]]<br/>[[World music]]<br/>[[Progressive rock]]<br/>[[Ambient music]]
|occupation = [[Musician]], writer, [[Editing|editor]], event/concert organizer
|Occupation = [[Musician]], writer, [[Editing|editor]], event/concert organizer
|years_active = 1977–present
|Years_active = 1977–present
|label = Moontower Records, [[Sky Records]], [[China Record Company]], Soundtrack Boulevard Music, First World Music, Infrasound, HipSync, Prudence, Periplum, Extreme, Linden, Palace of Lights, Noise Asia, Materiali Sonori, Moonjune Records
|Label = Moontower Records, [[Sky Records]], [[China Record Company]], Soundtrack Boulevard Music, First World Music, Infrasound, HipSync, Prudence, Periplum, Extreme, Linden, Palace of Lights, Noise Asia, Materiali Sonori
|associated_acts = [[Land (band)|LAND]]<br/>[[Earthstar (band)|Earthstar]]<br/>Stackpole<br/>[[Moraine (band)|Moraine]]<br/>[[Jeff Greinke]]<br/>[[Chekov (band)|Chekov]]<br/>[[Eric Apoe]]<br/>Savant<br/>[[Identity Crisis (band)|Identity Crisis]]<br/>[[The Vagaries]]<br/>Iron Kim Style<br/>Tempered Steel<br/>[[Ting Bu Dong]]
|Associated_acts = [[Land (band)|LAND]]<br/>[[Earthstar]]<br/>Stackpole<br/>[[Moraine (band)|Moraine]]<br/>[[Jeff Greinke]]<br/>[[Chekov (band)|Chekov]]<br/>[[Eric Apoe]]<br/>Savant<br/>[[Identity Crisis (band)|Identity Crisis]]<br/>[[The Vagaries]]<br/>Iron Kim Style<br/>Tempered Steel<br/>[[Ting Bu Dong]]
|website = [http://www.dennisrea.com/ Dennis Rea website]<br/>[http://www.myspace.com/dennisrea MySpace: Dennis Rea]
|URL = [http://www.dennisrea.com/ Dennis Rea website]<br/>[http://www.myspace.com/dennisrea MySpace: Dennis Rea]
|Current_members =
|Past_members =
}}
}}
'''Dennis Rea''' (born 7 July 1957) is an American [[guitarist]] and music event organizer currently living in [[Seattle]]. Rea first came to prominence as a member of the [[electronic music]] group [[Earthstar (band)|Earthstar]] in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is probably best known in the West as a musician for his work with [[Jeff Greinke]] in [[Land (band)|Land]]. Rea's first solo album, ''[[Shadow In Dreams]]'' (1990), is notable as one of the first releases in mainland China by a western musician on the state record label. He currently leads the quintet Moraine.
'''Dennis Rea''' (born 7 July 1957<ref name="All About Jazz">{{cite web
| title = Dennis Rea
| publisher = All About Jazz
| date = 2009-07-23
| url = http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=18830
| accessdate = 2011-04-04}}</ref>) is an American [[guitarist]], writer and music event organizer currently living in [[Seattle]]. Rea first came to prominence as a member of the [[electronic music]] group [[Earthstar (band)|Earthstar]] in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is probably best known in the West as a musician for his work with the quintet [[Moraine (band)|Moraine]] and with [[Jeff Greinke]] in [[Land (band)|Land]]. Rea's first solo album, ''Shadow In Dreams'' (1990), is notable as one of the first releases in mainland China by a western musician on the state record label.<ref name="All About Jazz"/>


Rea has collaborated with [[Hector Zazou]], [[Trey Gunn]] (formerly of [[King Crimson]]), and current [[R.E.M. (band)|REM]] and former [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] [[drum]]mer [[Bill Rieflin]].<ref name="Earshot">{{Cite news
Rea has collaborated with [[Hector Zazou]], [[Trey Gunn]] (formerly of [[King Crimson]]), and current [[R.E.M. (band)|REM]] and former [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] [[drum]]mer [[Bill Rieflin]].<ref name="Earshot">{{Cite news
Line 34: Line 33:
| date = 06
| date = 06
| url =http://www.earshot.org/Publication/pub/07june.pdf
| url =http://www.earshot.org/Publication/pub/07june.pdf
| postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref><ref name="detailed bio">{{cite web
| postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref><ref name="bio">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Detailed Bio
| title = Biography
| publisher = Dennis Rea (website)
| publisher = Dennis Rea (website)
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/detailedbio.cfm
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/bio.html
| accessdate = 2008-02-20 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080607134554/http://www.dennisrea.com/bio.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-06-07}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2011-04-04}}</ref>
Rea's music ranges from jazz to adventurous rock to world music to electronic music. He has performed on three continents at events including the [[WOMAD Festival]], Beijing International Jazz Festival,<ref name="WA Composers">{{cite web
| title = Composer Spotlight
| publisher = Washington Composers Forum
| year = 2009
| url = http://www.washingtoncomposers.org/pages/composerspotlight/dennisrea.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-04}}</ref> [[NEARfest]],<ref name="Rafaella Berry">{{cite web
| last = Berry
| first = Rafaella
| title = NEARFest 2010 – An Eyewitness Account
| publisher = Progressor (Uzbekistan Progressive Rock Pages)
| date = 2010-06-24
| url = http://www.progressor.net/nearfest2010.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-03}}</ref> [[Bumbershoot|Bumbershoot Arts Festival]], and the [[Earshot Jazz|Earshot Jazz Festival]].<ref name="WA Composers"/><ref name="They Bio">{{cite web
| last = Apoe
| first = Eric
| title = Eric Apoe & They
| work = bio, Dennis Rea
| url = http://www.ericapoe.com/
| accessdate = 2007-12-05 }}</ref> He also served as the co-director of the annual Seattle Improvised Music Festival for over a decade.<ref name="Seattle Improvised">{{cite web
| title = Past Performers
| publisher = Seattle Improvised Music Festival
| year = 2006
| url = http://www.seattleimprovisedmusic.com/simf/simf_2006/2005_site/history/SIMPperformers.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref>


==Early years==
==Early years==
Born in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], Rea grew up in [[Utica, New York|Utica]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. He first took up the guitar at the age of nine, inspired by [[Mike Nesmith]] of [[The Monkees]], not realizing that the band did not even play their own instruments at the time.<ref name="Forbidden 17">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 17–19
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref><ref name="Prog/Jazznet">{{cite web
| title = PROG/JAZZNET artikler: Dennis Rea
| publisher= PROG/JAZZNET
| date = 2010-09
| url = http://jazz-net.blogspot.com/2010/09/dennis-rea-interview.html
| accessdate= 2011-04-04}}</ref>
Two of Rea's most important influences were the [[György Ligeti]] compositions on the ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' soundtrack and the [[King Crimson]] album ''[[In the Court of the Crimson King]]''. In a 2001 interview in ''Exposé'' magazine Rea comments on the impact on his music: "The former opened my ears to expanded conceptions of form and tonality and to the world of 'extended' instrumental technique, and Ligeti remains my favorite composer to this day. The latter showed me that rock music could be so much more than the usual foursquare pounding with juvenile lyrics."<ref name="Expose">{{cite web
Two of Rea's most important influences were the [[György Ligeti]] compositions on the ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' soundtrack and the [[King Crimson]] album ''[[In the Court of the Crimson King]]''. In a 2001 interview in ''Exposé'' magazine Rea comments on the impact on his music: "The former opened my ears to expanded conceptions of form and tonality and to the world of 'extended' instrumental technique, and Ligeti remains my favorite composer to this day. The latter showed me that rock music could be so much more than the usual foursquare pounding with juvenile lyrics."<ref name="Expose">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| last = Rea
Line 95: Line 54:
| accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref>


Other music which influenced Rea's development included [[progressive rock]] and [[jazz]] bands [[Gentle Giant]], [[Matching Mole]], [[Van der Graaf Generator]], [[Henry Cow]], and [[Centipede (band)|Centipede]]. He credits King Crimson and [[Soft Machine]] with his abiding interest in [[modern jazz]] and credits his brother with introducing him to the music of [[Miles Davis]], [[John Coltrane]], [[Eric Dolphy]], [[Albert Ayler]],<ref name="Expose"/> and [[Ornette Coleman]]. Rea also cites [[experimental music|experimental]] [[classical music|classical]] [[composer]]s [[Krzysztof Penderecki]], [[Karlheinz Stockhausen]], and [[John Cage]] as lasting influences. Guitarists who influenced Rea's playing style include [[John Abercrombie (guitarist)|John Abercrombie]], [[Terje Rypdal]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], and [[Ralph Towner]]<ref name="Forbidden 17"/>
Other music which influenced Rea's development included [[progressive rock]] and [[jazz]] bands [[Gentle Giant]], [[Matching Mole]], [[Van der Graaf Generator]], [[Henry Cow]], and [[Centipede (band)|Centipede]]. He credits King Crimson and [[Soft Machine]] with his abiding interest in [[modern jazz]] and credits his brother with introducing him to the music of [[Miles Davis]], [[John Coltrane]], [[Eric Dolphy]], [[Albert Ayler]],<ref name="Expose"/> and [[Ornette Coleman]].

In the early 1970s Rea formed what he describes as an "eccentric [[progressive rock]] band", Zuir,<ref name="All About Jazz"/><ref name="Expose"/> with [[bass guitar|bassist]] [[Norm Peach]] and [[drum]]mer [[Daniel Zongrone]].<ref name="Prog/Jazznet"/> The three young musicians decided to skip college to pursue their musical careers. In [[1975 in music|1975]] the trio moved to [[Seattle]] but found no more interest in their music than they had found in upstate New York, returning to Utica the following year.<ref name="Forbidden 17"/> In an interview in Exposé Magazine Rea recalled that Zuir was "perhaps the first out-of-state rock band to seek its fortune in Seattle - only 20 years too early."<ref name="Expose"/>


==Musical career==
==Musical career==

===Earthstar===
===Earthstar===
Earthstar was the brainchild of keyboardist/synthesist [[Craig Wuest]]. A native of Utica, New York, Wuest was heavily influenced by the German electronic music scene of the 1970s,<ref name="Prog Archives">{{cite web
Earthstar was the brainchild of keyboardist/synthesist [[Craig Wuest]]. A native of Utica, New York, Wuest was heavily influenced by the German electronic music scene of the 1970s, including [[Klaus Schulze]], [[Popol Vuh (German band)|Popol Vuh]], [[Tangerine Dream]], [[Kraftwerk]], and [[Harmonia (band)|Harmonia]]. Earthstar was born out of the partnership of Wuest and the members of Zuir, plus other Utica-area musicians. In 1977 Earthstar was signed by [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]-based Moontower Records, who released the group's first album, ''[[Salterbarty Tales]],'' the following year. Earthstar also began recording its second album, ''[[French Skyline]],'' in 1978. Rea recalls concerts during the period when Earthstar was in Utica: "The group performed live only a handful of times, mostly at inappropriate venues like roadhouse bars and college beer halls, with predictable results."<ref name="Expose"/>
| last = Fuglesteg
| first = Torodd
| title = Dennis Rea
| publisher = Prog Archive: Progressive Rock Music Forum
| date = 2010-11-26
| url = http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73563
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> including [[Klaus Schulze]], [[Popol Vuh (German band)|Popol Vuh]], [[Tangerine Dream]], [[Kraftwerk]], and [[Harmonia (band)|Harmonia]]. Earthstar was born out of the partnership of Wuest and the members of Zuir, plus other Utica-area musicians. In 1977 Earthstar was signed by [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]-based Moontower Records, who released the group's first album, ''[[Salterbarty Tales]],'' the following year.<ref name="Discogs-Salterbarty">{{cite web
| title = Earthstar - Salterbarty Tales
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Earthstar-Salterbarty-Tales/release/1237156
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> Earthstar also began recording its second album, ''[[French Skyline]],'' in 1978. Rea recalls concerts during the period when Earthstar was in Utica: "The group performed live only a handful of times, mostly at inappropriate venues like roadhouse bars and college beer halls, with predictable results."<ref name="Expose"/>

Craig Wuest was an admirer of electronic music pioneer [[Klaus Schulze]], with whom he struck up a correspondence. Schulze encouraged Wuest and Earthstar to come to Germany.<ref name="Prog Archives"/> Wuest sold his grand piano, which had played a prominent part on ''Salterbarty Tales,'' to finance the move.<ref name="Expose"/> Rea and other Earthstar musicians joined Wuest in Germany to continue work on ''French Skyline''. Rea describes his own decision to travel to Germany in his 2006 book ''Live At The Forbidden City'':
<blockquote>"I was one of several old Utica mates invited to participate in the project. Since the prospect of making a record with international music luminaries was an offer I couldn't refuse, I dropped my plans to attend music school and instead spent half a year in the countryside near [[Hanover|Hannover]] working on Earthstar sessions..."<ref name="Forbidden 17"/></blockquote>


Craig Wuest was an admirer of electronic music pioneer [[Klaus Schulze]], with whom he struck up a correspondence. Schulze encouraged Wuest and Earthstar to come to Germany. Wuest sold his grand piano, which had played a prominent part on ''Salterbarty Tales,'' to finance the move.<ref name="Expose"/>
Earthstar was signed by [[Hamburg]]-based [[Sky Records]], who released the group's next three albums beginning with ''French Skyline'' in [[1979 in music|1979]].<ref name="Sky">{{cite web
Earthstar was signed by [[Hamburg]]-based [[Sky Records]], who released the group's next three albums beginning with ''French Skyline'' in [[1979 in music|1979]].<ref name="Sky">{{cite web
| title =SKY
| title =SKY
Line 127: Line 70:
| publisher = Discogs
| publisher = Discogs
| url =http://www.discogs.com/label/Sky+Records
| url =http://www.discogs.com/label/Sky+Records
| accessdate = 2007-10-29}}</ref> Earthstar is notable as the only American band who participated in Germany's [[Kosmische Musik]]/[[electronic music]] scene while still at its height.<ref name="Expose"/> The association with Klaus Schulze guaranteed Earthstar recognition and respectable record sales by German electronic music standards.
| accessdate = 2007-10-29}}</ref> Earthstar is notable as the only American band who participated in Germany's [[Kosmische Musik]]/[[electronic music]] scene while still at its height.<ref name="Expose"/>

During parts of 1979 and 1980 Rea lived near the town of [[Celle]]. In addition to guitar he played [[autoharp|chorded zither]] and [[piano]] during subsequent Earthstar sessions and composed pieces which appeared on the third album, ''[[Atomkraft? Nein, Danke!]]'' (1981),<ref name="Discogs-Atomkraft">{{cite web
| title = Earth Star* - Atomkraft? Nein Danke!
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Earth-Star-Atomkraft-Nein-Danke/release/335536
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> and on tracks for a fourth album, ''Sleeper, the Nightlifer'', which was never released.<ref name="detailed bio"/><ref name="Prog Archives"/> Rea left Earthstar after the ''Sleeper, the Nightlifer'' sessions and did not appear on the group's final album.<ref name="Humans Only">{{cite web
| last = Martin
| first = Caitlyn
| title = Earthstar - Humans Only
| publisher = Discogs
| date = 2009-12-25
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Earthstar-Humans-Only/release/1237166
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref>

===1982 - 1989: Seattle and New York===
Rea returned to Seattle after the Earthstar sessions, where he met electronic composer [[Kerry Leimer]], who had released a number of albums on the independent Palace of Lights record label.<ref name="Leimer-Discogs">{{cite web
| title =K. Leimer
| publisher = Discogs
| url =http://www.discogs.com/artist/K.+Leimer
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> In 1981 Leimer, looking to create experimental electronic music that was also danceable, had formed the group Savant.<ref name="Forbidden 17"/><ref name="Savant">{{cite web
| title = Savant (2)
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Savant+(2)
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> Rea joined Savant in 1982, contributing to the album ''The Neo-Realist (at Risk)'',<ref name="e/i">{{cite web
| last = Bergstein
| first = Darren
| title = Crown jewels from Palace of Lights
| publisher = e/i Magazine
| url = http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7141348
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref><ref name="e/i-2">{{cite web
| last = Bergstein
| first = Darren
| title = Crown jewels from Palace of Lights
| publisher = e/i Magazine
| url = http://www.globalinventure.com/electronic/ambient/k_leimer_the_listening_room.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> described by ''Downbeat'' magazine as "pan-ethnic techno-dub music." At about the same time Rea met [[ambient music|ambient]] musician and composer [[Jeff Greinke]], with whom he would later collaborate extensively.<ref name="Forbidden 17"/>

In 1983 Rea moved to New York City<ref name="about">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Dennis Rea: About
| url =http://www.dennisrea.com/about.cfm
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> where he once again worked with ex-Zuir and Earthstar member Daniel Zongrone. The pair composed music for an exhibition of painter (and former Earthstar [[violin]]ist) Daryl Trivieri's work at the Semaphore East Gallery in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] in 1985.<ref name="old bio">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Biography
| publisher = Dennis Rea
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/bio.html
| accessdate = 2007-10-29 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070723234925/http://www.dennisrea.com/bio.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-07-23}}</ref>

Rea returned to Seattle in late 1986.<ref name="Forbidden 20">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 20–21
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> There he co-directed the second Seattle Improvised Music Festival.<ref name="Seattle Improvised"/> He also added guitar work to [[Wally Shoup]]'s 1987 release ''Upright'' and to Doug Haire's solo album ''Locale'', which was released in 1992.<ref name="Haire">{{cite web
| last = Haire
| first = Doug
| title = Doug Haire - Releases
| url = http://www.doughaire.com/releases.html
| accessdate = 2007-10-30 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070707102306/http://www.doughaire.com/releases.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-07-07}}</ref> During this period Rea played with the bands Color Anxiety and Calabatics,<ref name="detailed bio"/> with whom he recorded tracks which appeared on compilation albums of Seattle bands in 1988.<ref name="discography">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Dennis Rea: Discography
| url =http://www.dennisrea.com/discography.cfm
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref><ref name="Secretions">{{cite web
| title = Various - Secretions
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Various-Secretions/release/1967108
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> Later that year Rea played guitar on the soundtrack of the motion picture ''Shredder Orpheus'',<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web
| title = Dennis Rea
| publisher = IMDB
| url = http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2599234/
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> composed by Roland Barker. Barker, Bill Rieflin, and [[Amy Denio]] also took part in the sessions.<ref name="Forbidden 20"/>

===1989 - 1990: Chengdu, China===
In January 1989, Rea moved to [[Chengdu]], China after his fiancée, Anne Joiner, accepted a teaching position at Chengdu University of Science & Technology as part of an academic exchange.<ref name="Prog Archives"/><ref name="Delville">{{cite web
| last = Delville
| first = Michel
| authorlink = Michel Delville
| coauthors = John M.
| title = Interview: Dennis Rea
| publisher = MoonJune Records
| date = 2011-09-27
| url = http://moonjune.com/blog/9.27.11_interview_dennis-rea/
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref> Rea also accepted a position teaching English at the university.<ref name="Forbidden 3">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| page = 3
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> Rea was approached to perform for the university's guitar club and a young Chinese guitarist, Zhao Xiong, was in attendance. Zhao, who proceeded to take lessons from Rea, was president of the informal Chengdu Guitar Association and he arranged for Rea to perform at venues ranging from schools to the Worker's Cultural Palace and even a textile factory. During this time Rea began interpreting traditional Chinese music<ref name="Forbidden 23">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 23–26
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> which continues to influence his current works.<ref name="Prog/Jazznet"/> In late spring, 1989, Rea also lectured twice at the Sichuan Music Conservatory, which he described as "the hub of music education in southwest China and Tibet": once on jazz, once on electric guitar technique.<ref name="Forbidden 30">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 30–34
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref>

In the wake of the events of June 4-June 6, 1989 in [[Tiananmen Square]] and the civil unrest and violence in Chengdu which he witnessed first hand, Rea was one of less than a dozen foreigners still living in the city. To his "lasting embarrassment" he was portrayed on Chinese state television as one of a few "brave foreign friends who stayed through the conflict to show their support for the government's policies."<ref name="Forbidden 47">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 47–48
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref>

In late 1989 Rea was granted permission to organize two concerts for students at the university. He was also invited to the studios of state-owned Sichuan Radio to make a multitrack recording which was broadcast throughout the province, and also began to collaborate with well-known regional musicians.<ref name="Forbidden 73">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 73–74
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref>

n January 1990 Rea played guitar in support of controversial Chinese pop star Zhang Xing<ref name="Prog Archives"/> in concerts in Chengdu and [[Chongqing]], making him an instant celebrity in China.<ref name="Forbidden 79">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 79–82
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> In the spring of that year Rea was approached to record and produce an album of his music for state-owned China Records. His first solo album, ''Shadow In Dreams'', was made in just four days at China Records' Chengdu studio. It was released on cassette that summer<ref name="Discogs-Shadow">{{cite web
| title = Dennis Rea - Shadow In Dreams
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Dennis-Rea-Shadow-In-Dreams/release/1356125
| accessdate=2011-04-05}}</ref> and sold over 40,000 copies<ref name="Delville"/><ref name="squid">{{cite web
| last = Jerman
| first = Jeph
| title = Dennis Rea - Views From Chicheng Precipice
| publisher = The Squid's Ear
| date = 2011-12-06
| url = http://www.squidsear.com/cgi-bin/news/newsView.cgi?newsID=1384
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref> throughout the country. The recording was listed among the ten best releases of 1990 by the Communist Party newspaper ''[[China Youth Daily]]''.<ref name="discography"/><ref name="Forbidden 87">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 87–88
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref>

===1990 - 1993: Tainan, Taiwan, Identity Crisis, and The Vagaries===
In April 1990, Rea and his wife moved to [[Tainan City]], [[Taiwan]]. He formed the band [[Identity Crisis (band)|Identity Crisis]], mainly with other expatriate musicians. Identity Crisis played roughly 30 shows over the winter of 1990-1991 and had a small, largely expatriate following.<ref name="Forbidden 98">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 98–106
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> They found more receptive audiences in mainland China thanks to an invitation to perform by Chinese rocker [[Cui Jian]].<ref name="Prog Archives"/><ref name="China Today">{{cite web
| last = Godfrey
| first = Mark
| title = Rock Chic In Chengdu
| publisher = China Today
| date = 2007-02
| url = http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/e2007/e200702/p63.htm
| accessdate=2011-04-05}}</ref>

Identity Crisis arrived in [[Beijing]] in early April, 1991, where they played a number of public and private performances over a 10-day period, including shows featuring Chinese rock bands such as [[Cobra (Chinese band)|Cobra]] and ADO, as well as Cui Jian himself.<ref name="Identity Crisis">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Identity Crisis
| publisher = Dennis Rea (website)
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/identitycrisis.cfm
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref><ref name="Fourmosa">{{cite web
| title = Ting Bu Dong / Identity Crisis Taiwan concert tour April '08
| publisher = Forumosa (web site)
| date = 2008-03-28
| url = http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=69238
| accessdate = 2011-04-01}}</ref><ref name="Atze Ton">{{cite web
| last = Ton
| first = Atze
| title = vita
| publisher = Atze Ton
| url = http://www.atze-ton.de/atze/html/atze_ton_-_vita.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-05}}</ref> Cui Jian joined Identity Crisis on stage<ref name="Delville"/> during one performance at Maxim's.<ref name="Forbidden 111">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 111–113
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> The band then moved on to Chengdu<ref name="Atze Ton"/> for ten days where Rea arranged five sizable university concerts, a concert staged by Chengdu TV, and smaller performances at a few local bars and pubs. Identity Crisis was also invited by Yang Shichun, who had produced ''Shadow In Dreams'', to record an album for the China Record Company. The release was ultimately blocked by company officials in Beijing for political reasons as Yang had not received proper clearance for an album by a foreign artists. Upon their return to Tainan the members of Identity Crisis found that interest in the band had increased dramatically as a result of their association with Cui Jian.<ref name="Identity Crisis"/><ref name="Forbidden 126">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 111–126
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref>
In the fall of 1991 Rea received an invitation to perform and represent the United States in the China International TV Festival. The Vagaries were a new group Rea assembled specifically for the occasion which included [[Keyboard instrument|keyboardist]]/[[saxophone|saxophonist]] Roland Barker, drummer [[Bill Rieflin]], keyboardist/vocalist Charley Rowan, and electric bassist Mike Davidson, with rehearsals taking place in Seattle.<ref name="Forbidden 135">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 135–138
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> In addition to the [[Chinese Central Television|CCTV]] appearance, which was viewed by hundreds of millions of people in China and neighboring countries,<ref name="old bio"/><ref name="Delville"/> The Vagaries toured China<ref name="Earshot"/> with 20 concerts in the cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, [[Kunming]], and [[Guangzhou]] (Canton).<ref name="old bio"/>

In 1992 a crackdown on expatriate musicians by Taiwanese officials caused Identity Crisis to disband. Rea continued to perform with other groups he assembled and continued to teach English until he moved back to Seattle in February 1993.<ref name="Forbidden 160">{{cite book
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| authorlink = Dennis Rea
| title = Live at the Forbidden City
| publisher = iUniverse
| year = 2006
| location = New York
| pages = 160–177
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref>

===1993 - 2005: LAND, Eric Apoe and They, Stackpole===


===LAND===
In 1993 [[Jeff Greinke]], an ambient musician and composer Rea first met in Seattle in the early 1980s, put together a new ensemble called '''[[Land (band)|Land]]'''. Greinke had previously been known for his textured compositions but with Land he wanted "to push this layering technique using a four piece band..."<ref name="Extreme">{{cite web
In 1993 [[Jeff Greinke]], an ambient musician and composer Rea first met in Seattle in the early 1980s, put together a new ensemble called '''[[Land (band)|Land]]'''. Greinke had previously been known for his textured compositions but with Land he wanted "to push this layering technique using a four piece band..."<ref name="Extreme">{{cite web
| title = LAND
| title = LAND
Line 404: Line 94:
| year = 2006
| year = 2006
| pages = 179–191
| pages = 179–191
| isbn = 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> in 1993 Rea also supported Greinke on sessions for his solo album ''Big Weather'', released in 1994, adding guitar work to two tracks.<ref name="Big Weather">{{cite web
| isbn = ISBN 0-595-39048-X}}</ref> in 1993 Rea also supported Greinke on sessions for his solo album ''Big Weather'', released in [[1994 in music|1994]], adding guitar work to two tracks.<ref name="Big Weather">{{cite web
| title = Big Weather
| title = Big Weather
| publisher = The Edge
| publisher = The Edge
| url =http://www.the-edge.ws/greinke/big.html
| url =http://www.the-edge.ws/greinke/big.html
| accessdate = 2007-11-15}}</ref> Land's eponymous [[Land (Land album)|debut album]] was recorded in 1994 and released by the Australian Extreme label in 1995.<ref name="Extreme">{{cite web
| accessdate = 2007-11-15}}</ref> Land's eponymous [[LAND (album)|debut album]] was recorded in 1994 and released by the Australian Extreme label in [[1995 in music|1995]].<ref name="Extreme">{{cite web
| title = LAND
| title = LAND
| work = LAND
| work = LAND
Line 425: Line 115:
| accessdate = 2007-11-15}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2007-11-15}}</ref>


A May, 1996 concert broadcast formed the basis for most of Land's second album, ''[[Archipelago (album)|Archipelago]]''.<ref name="Edge-Archipelago">{{cite web
A May, [[1996 in music|1996]] concert broadcast formed the basis for most of Land's second album, ''[[Archipelago (album)|Archipelago]]''.<ref name="Edge-Archipelago">{{cite web
| title = Archipelago
| title = Archipelago
| publisher = The Edge
| publisher = The Edge
Line 445: Line 135:
| date = 1996-11-10
| date = 1996-11-10
| url = http://www.avantart.com/china/peking96.htm
| url = http://www.avantart.com/china/peking96.htm
| accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref> Rea also performed with Land's Lesli Dalaba (trumpet), [[guzheng]] virtuoso Wang Yong, Austrian violinist Andreas Schreiber, [[Netherlands|Dutch]] drummer Han Bennink, and Claudio Puntin and Steffen Schorn on horns at Keep In Touch, reportedly China's first [[internet cafe]].<ref name="Forbidden 179"/> The jam session produced a mixture of American style [[free jazz]] and European influenced improvisation blended at times with traditional Chinese music. The results were captured on the album ''[[Free Touching: Live in Beijing at Keep in Touch]]'', which was released as a double CD in March, 2004.<ref name="verge">{{cite web
| accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref> Rea also performed with Land's Lesli Dalaba (trumpet), [[guzheng]] virtuoso Wang Yong, Austrian violinist Andreas Schreiber, [[Netherlands|Dutch]] drummer Han Bennink, and Claudio Puntin and Steffen Schorn on horns at Keep In Touch, reportedly China's first [[internet cafe]].<ref name="Forbidden 179"/> The jam session produced a mixture of American style [[free jazz]] and European influenced improvisation blended at times with traditional Chinese music. The results were captured on the album ''[[Free Touching: Live in Beijing at Keep in Touch]]'', which was released as a double CD in March, [[2004 in music|2004]].<ref name="verge">{{cite web
| publisher = Verge Music Distribution
| publisher = Verge Music Distribution
| title = Free Touching: Live In Beijing
| title = Free Touching: Live In Beijing
Line 458: Line 148:
| publisher = The Edge
| publisher = The Edge
| url =http://www.the-edge.ws/greinke/archipelago.html
| url =http://www.the-edge.ws/greinke/archipelago.html
| accessdate = 2007-11-15 }}</ref> with finishing touches completed in July.<ref name="Greinke-Ambi"/> The album was released later that year.<ref name="Edge-Archipelago"/> Rea also contributed guitar work to the track "Threads", which appeared on Greinke's 1998 album ''Swimming''.<ref name="Edge-Swimming">{{cite web
| accessdate = 2007-11-15 }}</ref> with finishing touches completed in July.<ref name="Greinke-Ambi"/> The album was released later that year.<ref name="Edge-Archipelago"/> Rea also contributed guitar work to the track "Threads", which appeared on Greinke's [[1998 in music|1998]] album ''Swimming''.<ref name="Edge-Swimming">{{cite web
| title = Archipelago
| title = Archipelago
| publisher = The Edge
| publisher = The Edge
Line 483: Line 173:
| accessdate = 2007-11-29 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Lesli Dalaba decided to leave Land later that year<ref name="Expose"/> and the remaining members agreed to part company amicably.<ref name="Rea-LAND"/>
| accessdate = 2007-11-29 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Lesli Dalaba decided to leave Land later that year<ref name="Expose"/> and the remaining members agreed to part company amicably.<ref name="Rea-LAND"/>


Between 1998 and 2001 Rea was also the leader of the improvisational free jazz quartet Stackpole,<ref name="Stackpole">{{cite web
In February, 1993 Rea also joined '''The Furnace''', the original band supporting veteran singer-songwriter Eric Apoe. The band gave its first performance on New Year's Eve that year.<ref name="Apoe-They">{{cite web
| last = Apoe
| first = Eric
| title = Eric Apoe and They: bio
| url = http://www.ericapoe.com/bio/bio_main.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-07 }}</ref> Rea played electric guitar on ''Songs of Love and Doom'', released in 1996. In the wake of some personnel changes the band was renamed '''Eric Apoe and They'''.<ref name="Discogs-They">{{cite web
| title = Eric Apoe And THEY
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Eric+Apoe+And+THEY
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> Rea performed on four additional albums: ''Dream Asylum'' (2000), ''Radioation'' (2002), ''Book of Puzzles'' (2005) and ''The Man in the Sun'' (2008),<ref name="discography"/> all released on the Soundtrack Boulevard label.<ref name="discography"/><ref name="Apoe-music">{{cite web
| last = Apoe
| first = Eric
| title = Eric Apoe and They: music
| url = http://www.ericapoe.com/music/music_main.html
| accessdate = 2011-04-07}}</ref> Apoe describes his music with They as "...a blend of American and European Roots music" with a "...combination of electric and acoustic instruments..."<ref name="Apoe-They"/>

Between 1998 and 2001 Rea was also the leader of the improvisational free jazz quartet '''Stackpole''',<ref name="Stackpole">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| first = Dennis
Line 514: Line 188:
| date = 06
| date = 06
| url =http://www.earshot.org/Publication/pub/07june.pdf
| url =http://www.earshot.org/Publication/pub/07june.pdf
| postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref> Stackpole released a self-titled album in 2001.<ref name="Stackpole"/> During this period Rea also appeared on albums by Rik Wright and the duo of Craig Flory and Doug Haire. He also contributed to two tracks on the Infrasound Collective' compilation album ''Owasso Night Atlas'', released in 2000. Rea contributed guitar work to the song "In the Middle of the Night" on [[Hector Zazou]]'s 2003 album ''Strong Currents''.<ref name="discography"/>
| postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref> Stackpole released a self-titled album in 2001.<ref name="Stackpole"/> During this period Rea also appeared on albums by Rik Wright and the duo of Craig Flory and Doug Haire. He also contributed to two tracks on the Infrasound Collective' compilation album ''Owasso Night Atlas'', released in 2000.<ref name="discography"/>

During this period Rea also formed a short lived band called '''Jetlegrs''' with bassist [[Ryan Berg]], drummer Olli Klomp, and [[violin]]ist Karl Scheer.<ref name="jetlegrs">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| title = Dennis Rea - Jetlegrs
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/jetleggers.html
|accessdate = 2007-12-08
| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070813184759/http://www.dennisrea.com/jetleggers.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->
| archivedate = 2007-08-13}}</ref> Berg and Rea had played together in various progressive rock bands in Taiwan in the early 1990s.<ref name="Iron Kim Facebook">{{cite web
| last = Berg
| first = Ryan
| title = Iron Kim Style
| publisher = Facebook
| url = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Iron-Kim-Style/163173137232?v=info&sk=info
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> Klomp was also a member of Eric Apoe and They.<ref name="Discogs-They"/> In 2005 Rea organized a tour of Taiwan for the band together with '''Chekov''', a [[Munich]], Germany-based electronic jazz group put together by former Identity Crisis bassist Atze Ton. During the tour Rea played guitar with both groups.<ref name="Atze Ton"/><ref name="Chekov-Taiwan">{{cite web
| last = Ton
| first = Atze
| title = Chekov - Taiwan tour 2005
| url = http://www.chekov-music.de/html/chekov_-_taiwan_tour_2005.html
| accessdate = 2007-12-06}}</ref>

===2006 - 2012: Moraine, Iron Kim Style, second solo album, other recent works===
In 2005 bassist [[Kevin Millard]] introduced Rea to [[Cello|cellist]] [[Ruth Davidson (musician)|Ruth Davidson]] and the two began playing shows together. By 2006 they had formed the group '''[[Moraine (band)|Moraine]]'''<ref name="Bills Prog">{{cite web
| last = Knipsel
| first = Bill
| title = 10 Questions with... Moraine
| work = Bill's Prog Blog
| date = 2010-08-10
| url = http://billsprogblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/10-questions-withmoraine.html
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref><ref name="Progmistress">{{cite web
| last = Berry
| first = Rafaella
| title = Interview: Moraine
| work = Fire of Unknown Origin
| publisher = Rafaella Berry
| date = 2011-10-01
| url = http://progmistress.com/2011/10/01/interview-dennis-rea-jim-dejoie-and-alicia-dejoie-of-moraine/
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> with violinist Alicia Allen (now [[Alicia DeJoie]]), bassist Mike Davidson and drummer [[Jay Jaskot]].<ref name="Earshot"/> Rea had previously worked with Allen in the group Eric Apoe and They<ref name="Apoe-They"/><ref name="Discogs-They"/><ref name="Progmistress"/> and with Mike Davidson in The Vagaries.<ref name="Earshot"/>

Moraine's sound was described "as electric avant-garde jazz-rock with world music influences at times" by Alex Henderson, writing for the [[Allmusic]] website.<ref name="Allmusic-Manifest">{{cite web
| last = Henderson
| first = Alex
| title = Manifest Density - Moraine
| publisher = Allmusic
| url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/manifest-density-r1629576/review
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> Brad Walseth called it "jazz chamber rock fusion" on the JazzChicago.net website.<ref name="JazzChicago">{{cite web
| last = Walseth
| first = Brad
| title = New Jazz CD reviews
| publisher = JazzChicago.net
| year = 2009
| url = http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/2009/QuickHits7.html
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> A 2007 ''Earshot Jazz'' magazine profile describes Rea's compositions for Moraine, in part: "He has arranged for it a small number of choice Chinese tunes, old and recent, traditional and not, which become gorgeous jazz- and rock-inflected pieces in his and his colleagues’ hands. But the group covers a lot of terrain, drawing on 'fractured bebop,' as Rea puts it, as well as math-rock – cranked up, rhythmically complex rock..."<ref name="Earshot"/>

By 2008 Millard had replaced Davidson on bass.<ref name="Bills Prog"/> From August 10–12, 2008 the group went into the studio to record their first album, ''Manifest Density''.<ref name="Discogs-Manifest">{{cite web
| title = Moraine - Manifest Density
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Moraine-Manifest-Density/release/2815800
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> Moraine was signed by Moonjune Records<ref name="Bills Prog"/><ref name="Discogs-Moraine">{{cite web
| title = Moraine Discography at Discogs
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Moraine
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> who released the album on September 22, 2009.<ref name="Progrography-Manifest">{{cite web
| last = Connolly
| first = Dave
| title = Moraine: Manifest Density
| publisher = Connolly & Company
| year = 2010
| url = http://www.connollyco.com/discography/moraine/manifest.html
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref>

Both Jaskot and Ruth Davidson left shortly after ''Manifest Density'' was recorded. Rather than finding another cellist the group decided to invite another former Eric Apoe and They member, [[saxophone|saxophonist]] [[James DeJoie]], to join. [[Stephen Cavit]], who is also an [[Emmy Award]] winning film composer, took over on drums.<ref name="Bills Prog"/><ref name="Progmistress"/> Moraine was invited to play at [[NEARFest]] 2010,<ref name="Rafaella Berry"/><ref name="Bills Prog"/><ref name="Moraine">{{cite web
| title = Moraine - About
| publisher = Moraine
| url = http://www.moraineband.com/about.cfm
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> which became part of the band's first east coast tour. The NearFEST performance was recorded and released as Moraine's second album ''Metamorphic Rock''<ref name="Progmistress"/><ref name="Moraine"/><ref name="Discogs-Metamorphic">{{cite web
| title = Moraine - Metamorphic Rock
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Moraine-Metamorphic-Rock/release/3212235
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> on October 18, 2011.<ref name="Progrography-Metamorphic">{{cite web
| last = Connolly
| first = Dave
| title = Moraine: Metamorphic Rock
| publisher = Connolly & Company
| year = 2012
| url = http://www.connollyco.com/discography/moraine/metamorphic.html
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref>

The band played four additional east coast dates in April and May, 2011 and continues to perform regularly in the Pacific Northwest.<ref name="Progmistress"/><ref name="Moraine-Shows">{{cite web
| title = Moraine - Shows
| publisher = Moraine
| url = http://www.moraineband.com/about.cfm
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> A third album, also to be released on MoonJune Records, is expected in fall, 2012. Tours of Brazil and Asia for 2012 are currently being planned.<ref name="Progmistress"/>

Rea also went into the studio in 2006 to begin recording his second solo album, ''Views From Chicheng Precipice''.<ref name="Discogs-Chicheng">{{cite web
| title = Dennis Rea - Views From Chicheng Precipice
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/Dennis-Rea-Views-From-Chicheng-Precipice/release/2815685
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref> In January, 2008 Rea was awarded a residency at Jack Straw Productions which allowed him to complete the recordings.<ref name="oldnews"/> The album includes four pieces of adapted traditional Chinese music and one of Rea's own compositions, "Three Views From Chicheng Precipice," <ref name="Discogs-Chicheng"/> inspired by the works of [[Tang Dynasty]] Chinese poet [[Bai Juyi]]. The piece is dedicated to the victims of the May, 2008 earthquake in Sichuan provence where Rea lived in 1989-90.<ref name="squid"/> In a September, 2011 interview with [[Michel Delville]], Rea refers to the album as "the natural outcome of the four-plus years I spent living, traveling, and playing music in China and Taiwan."<ref name="Delville"/>

All of the members of Moraine made guest appearances on the album. Additional guest musicians include [[Stuart Dempster]] ([[trombone]]), Caterina De Re ([[vocals]]), Greg Campbell ([[percussion]]), [[Elizabeth Falconer]] ([[koto (musical instrument)|koto]]), John Falconer ([[shakahuchi]]), and Paul Kikuchi (percussion).<ref name="Discogs-Chicheng"/><ref name="Progrography">{{cite web
| last = Connolly
| first = Dave
| title = Dennis Rea: Views From Chicheng Precipice
| publisher = Connolly & Company
| year = 2010
| url = http://www.connollyco.com/discography/dennis_rea/views.html
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref><ref name="All About Jazz-Chicheng">{{cite web
| last = Astarita
| first = Glenn
| title = Dennis Rea: Views from Chicheng Precipice
| publisher = All About Jazz
| date = 2010-10-15
| url = http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=37746
| accessdate = 2012-01-16}}</ref> The CD was released by Moonjune Records on July 20, 2010.<ref name="Progrography"/>

Rea is also a member of '''Iron Kim Style''', which he describes as an "explosive improvisational jazz-rock quintet."<ref name="Iron Kim">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| title = Dennis Rea - Iron Kim Style
| publisher = Dennis Rea
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/ironkimstyle.cfm
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> ''Earshot Jazz'' described the music as "inspired by [[Olivier Messiaen]], electric-period Miles Davis, and [[North Korea]]n martial music,"<ref name="Earshot"/> while Nikola Savić, writing for the Prog Sphere website described it as "a mixture of contemporary jazz, fusion and ambient music."<ref name="progsphere">{{cite web
| last = Savić
| first = Nikola
| title = Iron Kim Style - Selftitled : Prog Sphere
| publisher = Prog Sphere Promotions
| date = 2010-09-24
| url = http://www.prog-sphere.com/2010/09/24/iron-kim-style/
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref>

Iron Kim Style was founded in the early 2000s by bassist Ryan Berg.<ref name="Discogs-Iron Kim">{{cite web
| title = Iron Kim Style Discography at Discogs
| publisher = Discogs
| url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Iron+Kim+Style
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> In his blog trumpeter [[Bill Jones (trumpeter)|Bill Jones]] wrote that Iron Kim Style started out as an informal group of Seattle musicians who simply thought it "the idea of getting together would be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon." In time the group began to meet regularly, play local shows, and gave a performance on [[KEXP]] radio. In 2007 Iron Kim Style went into the studio to begin work on their self-titled debut album<ref name="blog">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| coauthors = Bill Jones
| title = Dennis Rea MySpace Blog
| date = 2008-01-29
| url = http://us.collect.myspace.cn/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=50738593
| accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> which was released by MoonJune Records in January, 2010.<ref name="Discogs-Iron Kim"/>

In March 2007 Rea and Olli Klomp traveled to Munich, meeting Atze Ton and another early 1990s Identity Crisis member, keyboardist Volker Wiedersheim. They formed a new band, '''Ting Bu Dong'''.<ref name="Atze Ton"/><ref name="Ting Bu Dong">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| title = Ting Bu Dong
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/tingbudong.cfm
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref><ref name="Ting Bu Dong 2">{{cite web
| last = Ton
| first = Atze
| title = Ting Bu Dong
| url = http://www.atze-ton.de/atze/html/atze_ton_-_ting_bu_dong.html
| accessdate = 2012-01-15}}</ref> (Chinese for "I hear, but I don't understand.")<ref name="oldnews">{{cite web
| last = Rea
| first = Dennis
| title = News
| date = 2008-01-29
| url = http://www.dennisrea.com/bio.html#new
| accessdate = 2008-02-20
| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080607134554/http://www.dennisrea.com/bio.html#news <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->
| archivedate = 2008-06-07}}</ref> The quartet went into the studio to record material for their 2008 eponymous debut album. In addition Rea sat in on Chekov recording sessions, contributing guitar work to their piece "For Absent Friends", which appeared on their 2008 debut release ''Born To Be Quiet''.<ref name="discography"/> The two bands also played live at the Monofaktur club in Munich.<ref name="Atze Ton"/><ref name="oldnews"/>

Rea also organized a 10 date tour of Taiwan for both Ting Bu Dong and Chekov which took place in April 2008.<ref name="Fourmosa"/><ref name="Ting Bu Dong"/> In addition, on April 12 and 13, 2008, Rea, Ton, and Wiedersheim reunited with keyboardist Bryce Whitwam, and drummer Tom Vest, two of the original core members of Identity Crisis, for three reunion concerts in Tainan, the first performance by the band since 1992.<ref name="Fourmosa"/><ref name="Atze Ton"/><ref name="oldnews"/> In October, 2009 Ting Bu Dong, minus Wiedersham and plus James DeJoie and German guitarist Phil Rosplesch played live and recorded in the studios of KEXP, Seattle.<ref name="Ting Bu Dong"/>
Rea's most unusual project is '''Tempered Steel''', a trio with experimental musician [[Ffej]] and instrument builder Frank Junk playing amplified and processed [[thumb piano]]s, also known as [[kalimba]]s. Ffej bought one of Junk's thumb pianos in 1995. Since 2004 the group has given concerts in the Seattle area.<ref name="Tentacle-calendar">{{cite web
| title = June, 2004 Calendar
| publisher = The Tentacle
| date = 2004-06
| url = http://www.tentacle.org/calendar/0604.html
| accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref> ''The Stranger'' describes their music: "Tempered Steel dubs out, distorts, and layers gentle tones into blipping polyrhythmic soundscapes."<ref name="Stranger">{{cite web
| last = DeLaurenti
| first = Christopher
| authorlink = Christopher DeLaurenti
| title = The Score
| publisher = The Stranger
| date = 2008-02-06
| url = http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=504079
| accessdate = 2008-02-15 }}</ref> A sample of the music can be found on [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=243748503 Ffej's MySpace page]. Tempered Steel has completed recording their debut album<ref name="Delville"/> which has not yet been released.

==Discography==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;In [[Earthstar (band)|Earthstar]]
* 1978 : ''[[Salterbarty Tales]]'' (studio album)
* 1979 : ''[[French Skyline]]'' (studio album)
* 1981 : ''[[Atomkraft? Nein, Danke!]]'' (studio album)

;In Savant
* 1983 : ''The Neo-Realist (At Risk)'' (studio album)

;In [[Land (band)|LAND]]
* 1995 : ''[[Land (Land album)|LAND]]'' (studio album)
* 1997 : ''[[Archipelago (album)|Archipelago]]'' (live album)
* 2001 : ''[[Road Movies (album)|Road Movies]]'' (studio album)

;In Eric Apoe and They
* 2000 : ''Dream Asylum'' (studio album)
* 2002 : ''Radioation'' (studio album)
* 2005 : ''Book of Puzzles'' (studio album)
* 2008 : ''The Man in the Sun'' (studio album)

;In Stackpole
* 2001: ''Stackpole'' (studio album)

;with [[Han Bennink]], Wang Yong, Andreas Schreiber,<br/>Steffen Schorn, Claudio Puntin, and Lesli Dalaba
* 2004 : ''[[Free Touching: Live in Beijing at Keep in Touch]]'' (live album)

;In Ting Bu Dong
* 2008 : ''Ting Bu Dong'' (studio album)

;In Moraine
* 2009 : ''Manifest Density'' (studio album)
* 2011 : ''Metamorphic Rock'' (live album)

;In Iron Kim Style
* 2010 : ''Iron Kim Style'' (studio album)

;with [[Wally Shoup]] and Tom Zgonc
* 2012 : ''Subduction Zone'' (studio album)

;Solo Albums
* 1990 : ''Shadow In Dreams'' (studio album)
* 2010 : ''Views From Chicheng Precipice'' (studio album)

{{Col-2}}
;supporting Wally Shoup
* 1987 : ''Upright'' (studio album)

;supporting Doug Haire
* 1992 : ''Locale'' (studio album)

;supporting [[Jeff Greinke]]
* 1994 : ''Big Weather'' (studio album)
** Tracks: The Happy Isles, River Limba
* 1998 : ''Swimming'' (studio album)
** Track: Threads

;supporting Eric Apoe
* 1996 : ''Songs of Love and Doom'' (studio album)

;supporting Craig Flory and Doug Haire
* 1998 : ''Wigwam Bendix'' (studio album)
** Track: Wigwam Breakdown

;supporting Rik Wright
* 2000 : ''Bleeding Laughter'' (studio album)
** Track: Emotional Slang

;supporting [[Hector Zazou]]
* 2003 : ''Strong Currents'' (studio album)
** Track: "In the Middle of the Night"

;supporting Chekov
* 2008 : ''Born to be Quiet'' (studio album)
** Track: "For Absent Friends"

===Compilations===
;with Color Anxiety
* 1988 : ''Secretions'' (C/Z Records LP sampler)
** Track: Body Parts

;with Calabatics
* 1988 : ''Third Seattle Improvised Music Festival''
** Track: untitled improvisation

;with Infrasound Collective
* 2000 : ''Owasso Night Atlas''
** Tracks: Edge Trio, Tentacle Steel Mill Session

{{Col-end}}

==Bibliography==
* 2006 : ''Live at the Forbidden City''


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 802: Line 199:
| NAME =Rea, Dennis
| NAME =Rea, Dennis
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =American musician and writer
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =1957-07-07
| DATE OF BIRTH =1957-07-07
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Chicago, Illinois, United States
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rea, Dennis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rea, Dennis}}
[[Category:American electronic musicians]]
[[Category:American experimental guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Land members]]
[[Category:Earthstar members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois]]

Revision as of 06:16, 3 April 2013

Dennis Rea

Dennis Rea (born 7 July 1957) is an American guitarist and music event organizer currently living in Seattle. Rea first came to prominence as a member of the electronic music group Earthstar in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is probably best known in the West as a musician for his work with Jeff Greinke in Land. Rea's first solo album, Shadow In Dreams (1990), is notable as one of the first releases in mainland China by a western musician on the state record label. He currently leads the quintet Moraine.

Rea has collaborated with Hector Zazou, Trey Gunn (formerly of King Crimson), and current REM and former Ministry drummer Bill Rieflin.[1][2]

Early years

Two of Rea's most important influences were the György Ligeti compositions on the 2001: A Space Odyssey soundtrack and the King Crimson album In the Court of the Crimson King. In a 2001 interview in Exposé magazine Rea comments on the impact on his music: "The former opened my ears to expanded conceptions of form and tonality and to the world of 'extended' instrumental technique, and Ligeti remains my favorite composer to this day. The latter showed me that rock music could be so much more than the usual foursquare pounding with juvenile lyrics."[3]

Other music which influenced Rea's development included progressive rock and jazz bands Gentle Giant, Matching Mole, Van der Graaf Generator, Henry Cow, and Centipede. He credits King Crimson and Soft Machine with his abiding interest in modern jazz and credits his brother with introducing him to the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Albert Ayler,[3] and Ornette Coleman.

Musical career

Earthstar

Earthstar was the brainchild of keyboardist/synthesist Craig Wuest. A native of Utica, New York, Wuest was heavily influenced by the German electronic music scene of the 1970s, including Klaus Schulze, Popol Vuh, Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, and Harmonia. Earthstar was born out of the partnership of Wuest and the members of Zuir, plus other Utica-area musicians. In 1977 Earthstar was signed by Nashville-based Moontower Records, who released the group's first album, Salterbarty Tales, the following year. Earthstar also began recording its second album, French Skyline, in 1978. Rea recalls concerts during the period when Earthstar was in Utica: "The group performed live only a handful of times, mostly at inappropriate venues like roadhouse bars and college beer halls, with predictable results."[3]

Craig Wuest was an admirer of electronic music pioneer Klaus Schulze, with whom he struck up a correspondence. Schulze encouraged Wuest and Earthstar to come to Germany. Wuest sold his grand piano, which had played a prominent part on Salterbarty Tales, to finance the move.[3] Earthstar was signed by Hamburg-based Sky Records, who released the group's next three albums beginning with French Skyline in 1979.[4][5] Earthstar is notable as the only American band who participated in Germany's Kosmische Musik/electronic music scene while still at its height.[3]

LAND

In 1993 Jeff Greinke, an ambient musician and composer Rea first met in Seattle in the early 1980s, put together a new ensemble called Land. Greinke had previously been known for his textured compositions but with Land he wanted "to push this layering technique using a four piece band..."[6] Rea and trumpeter Lesli Dalaba were original members and were soon joined by drummer Ed Pias.[7] Rea remained with the group throughout its lifespan. He described Land's music as "an odd blend of jazz, rock, electronic, and world music."[8] in 1993 Rea also supported Greinke on sessions for his solo album Big Weather, released in 1994, adding guitar work to two tracks.[9] Land's eponymous debut album was recorded in 1994 and released by the Australian Extreme label in 1995.[6] All of Land's albums started out as live radio broadcasts with, according to Rea, "...very little re-recording or cosmetic surgery after the fact, so they are accurate representations of the band's live sound."[3]

A May, 1996 concert broadcast formed the basis for most of Land's second album, Archipelago.[10] Later that year Rea arranged for Land to tour China, performing in Beijing, Kunming, and Chengdu,[8] as well as Hong Kong and Macau, in November and December.[11] The tour included a performance at the Beijing International Jazz Festival.[12][13] Rea also performed with Land's Lesli Dalaba (trumpet), guzheng virtuoso Wang Yong, Austrian violinist Andreas Schreiber, Dutch drummer Han Bennink, and Claudio Puntin and Steffen Schorn on horns at Keep In Touch, reportedly China's first internet cafe.[8] The jam session produced a mixture of American style free jazz and European influenced improvisation blended at times with traditional Chinese music. The results were captured on the album Free Touching: Live in Beijing at Keep in Touch, which was released as a double CD in March, 2004.[14][15] February 1997 also saw the recording of "Deep", the final track for Archipelago,[10] with finishing touches completed in July.[7] The album was released later that year.[10] Rea also contributed guitar work to the track "Threads", which appeared on Greinke's 1998 album Swimming.[16]

By 1998 Land had gone through a number of personnel changes and had developed a much harder-edged sound.[3] Andrew Bartlett, writing in a 1999 article in Seattle Weekly, described the music at that time, in part: "LAND's sound is a swirl — a clicking, cascading, jolting mix of sonorities and styles." Rea is quoted in the article: "The current lineup is more of a 'rock' band than earlier editions, and is much more explosive and in-your-face. Our connection with ambient music is pretty tenuous at this point."[17] The final incarnation of the band, which recorded the album Road Movies between June, 1998 and February 1999, included Greinke, Rea, Dalaba, bassist Fred Chalenor, and drummer Bill Rieflin, who had previously worked with Rea in The Vagaries and on the Shredder Orpheus soundtrack. Road Movies was not released until 2001.[18] It was named one of the Top Ten releases of 2001 by Pulse! (Instrumental/Ambient) and the Seattle Weekly (Jazz).[19] Lesli Dalaba decided to leave Land later that year[3] and the remaining members agreed to part company amicably.[11]

Between 1998 and 2001 Rea was also the leader of the improvisational free jazz quartet Stackpole,[20] which won a Golden Ear award from Earshot Jazz magazine for Best Northwest Outside Jazz Group in 2000.[1] Stackpole released a self-titled album in 2001.[20] During this period Rea also appeared on albums by Rik Wright and the duo of Craig Flory and Doug Haire. He also contributed to two tracks on the Infrasound Collective' compilation album Owasso Night Atlas, released in 2000.[21]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Monaghan, Peter (06). "On Guitar, Dennis Rea" (PDF). Earshot Jazz. pp. 9–10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help) Cite error: The named reference "Earshot" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Rea, Dennis. "Biography". Dennis Rea (website). Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rea, Dennis (2001-12). "Exposé Magazine interview". Exposé Magazine. Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "Expose" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ "SKY". Thunder Collectors pages. 2006-02-20. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  5. ^ "Sky Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  6. ^ a b "LAND". LAND. Extreme. Retrieved 2007-11-15. Cite error: The named reference "Extreme" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Greinke, Jeff (1998-08-19). "Jeff Greinke, Places of Motility Interview". AmbiEntrance. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  8. ^ a b c Rea, Dennis (2006). Live at the Forbidden City. iUniverse. pp. 179–191. ISBN ISBN 0-595-39048-X. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  9. ^ "Big Weather". The Edge. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  10. ^ a b c "Archipelago". The Edge. Cite error: The named reference "Edge-Archipelago" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Rea, Dennis. "LAND". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  12. ^ "Profile: Jeff Greinke". Star's End (radio program). Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  13. ^ Müller-Gödecke, Cornelie (1996-11-10). "Beijing Jazz Festival 1996". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  14. ^ "Free Touching: Live In Beijing". Verge Music Distribution. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  15. ^ "Noise Asia Records". Noise Asia Records. 2004. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  16. ^ "Archipelago". The Edge. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  17. ^ Bartlett, Andrew (1999-02-24). "Tones United". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  18. ^ "Road Movies". The Edge.
  19. ^ Rea, Dennis. "LAND CD Reviews". Retrieved 2007-11-29. [dead link]
  20. ^ a b Rea, Dennis. "Stackpole". Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference discography was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  • First World Music home page. Retrieved October 18, 2007.

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