Inside The Bona-Band

They say in life you can judge a man by the company he keeps. If that’s true in life, it’s also true in the blues.

And there’s no better, company you can keep in the blues than keyboard legend Reese Wynans.

Reese Wynans, in the world of blues, is a genuine master. He is perhaps best known from his former gig as a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. Reese was in that iconic band from 1985 until Vaughan’s tragic death in 1990, bringing his rich keyboard textures to the Soul to Soul and In Step records.

After taking on a number of other musically diverse projects in a variety of genres, Reese Wynans became a member of Joe Bonamassa’s blues band in 2015. Wynans had already played with Bonamassa before, appearing on the studio album Different Shades of Blue and the live album Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks.

In Bonamassa’s Band Reese is using the exact same B3 and Leslie’s that “Stevie found”, and this sound has become so integral to the music that he’s truly a corner stone of Joe’s band.

You can tell this by the way Joe lights up when Reese plays how and thrilled he is to have this blues legend playing in his band night in, night out and how genuine awed he is by his talent.

When Wynans joined Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble back in 1985 he was already a musical veteran, having worked with the likes of Duane Allman and Dickie Betts of The Allman Brothers Band, Boz Scaggs, Jerry Jeff Walker, Carole King, Joe Ely, Delbert McClinton and others. We spoke recently with Wynans about his time playing with Double Trouble and other musicians as well as his current gig with Joe.

“Stevie Ray Vaughan had the best phrasing and feel of any guitarist I had ever worked with. I had to up my game” says Wynans about when he joined the band. Not only that, but the fact that the band was tuned down a half step put Reese into weird key signatures like B and A flat. “I think I became a more aggressive and dynamic player with them.

We were curious about how Reese’s keyboard parts for Joe’s tunes get composed. “The process of creating parts in the studio is one of my favorite things. It’s really a craft, polished by years of recording experience.” So who actually creates the musical ideas that become Wynan’s parts? “Sometimes I come up with a part” explains Reese, “sometimes it’s Kevin Shirley, sometimes Joe or Michael Rhodes, will have an idea that inspires me.”

But in the live setting, Wynans has a lot of breathing room for improvisation. “On stage it’s pretty much up to me how close I stay to the part or how far away I might stray. I like to think that every night will be a little different and unique in its own way.”

One thing is certain: Reese Wynans can play in many different styles and genres, but we wanted to know what he found special about playing the blues. “I’ve been in the music business a long time. I’ve made rock records with Captain Beyond, pop records with Los Lonely Boys, jazz with Larry Carlton, country with Brooks & Dunn.” We asked him if there is a major difference between the other genres and the blues? “I think you have to make allowances for the genre. And every song in that genre is a different and distinctive piece of music.” Reese elaborated, “I try to find that unique thing in every blues song. You can stretch out or improvise in most genres of music, but I find that blues or blues rock is what moves me most on an emotion level.”

And finally, every blues artist has their own unique flavor and style, and we wanted to know how Reese thought about working with Joe? “Joe is a great singer and a very fiery guitarist. He’s also a good band leader. He knows what he likes and he values everyone’s opinion. He’s louder on stage than most other guys.” Adding, “He’s without a doubt the best dressed guy I have ever worked with.”

Thanks Reese!!