Great Barrier Reefs w/ Agori Tribe, The Apollo! Project.

In a middle Tennessee region famous for its country music, a new, hip cohort of young musicians have come together to fuse a fresh style of music that has captivated audiences across the country. The Great Barrier Reefs, having recently released their first studio album Finding Time, have successfully blended the knowledge and influences of each member in the development of the progressive funk/jazz, steel pan fronted band. Led by Tony Hartman, on steel pan and keys, the Reefs are made up of five young men brought together by their musical education in the Nashville area. Along with Hartman, the Reefs include Taylor Lonardo, on bass and audio production, Josh Dunlap, on saxophone, Matthew Heller, drums, and Rheal Janelle on guitar.

As an electric band, the Reefs appeal to a wide variety of music lovers: from jazz fanatics to jam-heads, rockers to hip-hoppers, the Reefs deliver a sincere and captivating performance of thier music.

The Great Barrier Reefs are currently touring to promote Finding Time, released in April 2011, which features 9 original tracks that touch on a wide variety of genres, ranging from jazz fusion to the funk of the 1960s and 70s. They just wrapped up a successful 2011 Summer and Fall Tour that stretched across the Midwest and Southeastern United States. The Great Barrier Reefs look forward to a busy early 2012 as they gear up for another year of touring and releasing records. The Reefs also perform live to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic silent film “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog,” rescored by Hartman for the Reefs.

“Catchy melodies and hooks abound and bring back memories of the many talented players and groups that flowed through and grew out of the best of Miles Davis' 1968-75 era ensembles, including the work of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Pete Cosey, Dave Holland and John Mahavishnu McLaughlin. It sure sounds to me like many of the best influences from that whole trajectory march on boldly on this album…”
RDJMS “Indulgent Reader” – Amazon review from Phoenix, AZ

Tony Hartman- steel pan, keyboard
Josh Dunlap- saxophones
Rheal Janelle- guitar
Taylor Lonardo- bass
Matt Heller- drums