Live clips of The Tom Reynolds Conspiracy:
Recorded May 18th, 2025:
Vocal tunes:
Originally composed in 2018 as an instrumental waltz, but I wrote lyrics in 2022. The music evokes the romanticism of King Arthur’s Castle and Camelot (per Sir Walter Scott et. al.); the lyrics evoke an introspective surrealism.
Mas Que Nada (Jorge Ben Jor — arranged Tom Reynolds)
This lively samba was the first Portuguese language number to make it to the top of the charts in the US and the UK in 1966 after it was covered by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66 and became his ‘signature’ song. It’s based on a Maracatu samba from Brazil’s Pernambuco state – inheriting from a Yoruba ritual called the “Oba Orixa. The ‘shout chorus’ in the middle begins with an ‘a cappella’ “horns only” section where the rhythm section drops out.
Just the Way You Are (Billy Joel — arranged Tom Reynolds)
Many listeners will be familiar with this pop hit from 1977. I heard it then, and promptly dismissed it as ‘pop fluff’. Years later, I heard a cover by Diana Krall, and was intrigued by the intimacy of a ‘quieter’ approach... The passing of years gave me a fresh perspective, and I resolved to give it a go.
Peg (Walter Becker / Donald Fagen — arranged Tom Reynolds)
This rock classic was part of the soundscape of my youth -- I heard it frequently when I was in college. Steely Dan has proved countless times that their music transcends genre.
Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer — arranged Tom Reynolds)
A magnificent ballad from 1942. I wrote contrapuntal ‘shout choruses’ in early 20th-century ‘swing’ style.
Falsa Baiana (Geraldo Pereira)
This samba by Afro-Brazilian bandleader Geraldo Pereira dates from 1942, and has a comical theme. It’s about the legendary sambistas from the Brazilian state of Bahia, and how to discern between a real Baiana and a ‘fake’ Baiana.
This comical ‘Gypsy Jazz’ waltz evokes life in eastern Europe and central Asia. It, too, was originally an instrumental composition I later wrote lyrics for.
Instrumental tunes:
Louisiana (Anat Cohen — arranged Tom Reynolds)
A New Orleans ‘second line’ blues that ‘gets right to the heart of the matter’.
This started out as an exploration of mid-20th century ‘swing’, but evolved into a tribute to ‘Pops’ (Louis Armstrong).
An original Bossa Nova. for a light ‘pop’ feel. The name means “reminiscing” in Portuguese. I strove for a light ‘pop’ feel. Rhythm hits, stop time and drum fills are all part of the package.
Recorded May 19, 2024:
Vocal tunes:
The Fool on the Hill (John Lennon / Paul McCartney — arranged Tom Reynolds)
I gave this Beatles classic a new twist with brooding horn backgrounds and a lilting shout chorus. It’s about the village fool, who is dismissed by everyone, actually being the most enlightened one of all.
I Don’t Know Where I Stand (Joni Mitchell — arranged Tom Reynolds)
This classic Joni song from the 1960’s explores the boundaries of familiarity when a relationship is new.
Águas de Março (Antonio Carlos Jobim — arranged Tom Reynolds)
This song is about the renewal of life at the close of the long hot summer when the seasonal rains (“The Waters of March”) return.
This song recalls an innocent summer fling that became more obsessive than planned. I sing the original Portuguese lyrics, and introduce new English lyrics I had written to recount the story more closely than what is afforded by the lyrics of “So Nice”.