Reina Collins

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Reina Collins brings a lifetime of living and loving to her big voiced, big hearted performance. Whether fronting a down home ensemble or strutting it up with her big rock act, or even solo, Collins evokes comparisons to a charismatic chorus of brethren. From the edgy humanity of Patti Smith to the cool western suave of Chris Isaak to the introspective songwriting of Carole King, Collins’ talent is deep and broad enough to recall all of these, while laying claim to a sound that is uniquely her own.
Lisa Lepine
Music Industry Consultant
Portland, Oregon
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Spring ’07 found Reina on the road heading south from Portland, Oregon with a map, a tape recorder and a notepad. Her gut told her that a 10,000 mile cross country solo road trip would inspire the stories and experiences -- necessary ingredients -- to shake out a batch of new songs.
This CD takes Reina in more of a roots rock/AAA radio friendly direction. Her six originals were written on this trip. Fellow Portland singer/songwriters Rob Barteletti and Paula Sinclair each contributed one tune. The covers she chose are songs written by Joni Mitchell, Richard Thompson, James McMurtry and Karl Wallinger (World Party).
With producer/engineer Rob Stroup of 8 Ball Studio and a slew of high caliber Portland musicians this cd deserves to be among your favorites of ’08!
AUSTIN TO BOSTON REVIEWS:
“This CD elevates Reina to the upper echelon of Portland’s elite stable of singer-songwriters. Already an accomplished songwriter, Reina has written her best music yet for this album. Of course, as we have come to expect, Reina’s vocals are what draw you into the songs to begin with, accompanied by some of Portland’s finest musicians and supported by the consistently excellent studio work of producer Rob Stroup of 8 Ball Studios. It’s a gem of a record. I’m honored that she chose one of my songs (‘Sisters in Crime’) to be part of this terrific CD.”
Rob Barteletti
Master Songwriter & Music Companion
"The new Reina Collins album, Austin to Boston, shows the Portland, Oregon-based singer in peak form. She sounds both confident and content, and her backing band also sounds sharp. Her astute choice of material, both self-penned songs and tasteful cover versions --- tunes by artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Richard Thompson, and World Party --- is a perfect fit for her warm, soothing vocals. This album is truly comfort food for the ears. Reina has a striking singing style that reminds me at times of Kathy Mattea or Mary Chapin-Carpenter, effortlessly blending elements of country, rock, blues, and folk. On her website she calls herself a "roots rockin’ songstress" and that’s a pretty apt description of her style. Whatever you want to label it, this is just damn good music."
Don Gilliland (check out Don’s Bangkok Dazed Web Blog at www.thingsasian.com)
"A veteran performer, Collins’ newest CD, Austin to Boston, fires up with Medicine Burn, a hearty, throaty vocal growl indeed "burns" good goin’ down on this track, as Collins states, she is the remedy. More good country follows on Mae Belle Road, adoringly executed as any good story should be. Collins is obviously a highly accomplished musician and performer with that Judy Collins, Kate Wolf, Joan Baez feel. Safe has a strong fundamental rock sound. Ruby moves back to a twisting little country sound dancing around the ballad of a beauty. Good rolling sounds on Put the Message in the Box. Nice cut on Woodstock, where her vocals really re-work a borrowed piece of time offering a nice strong cut of rock with really great electric guitar on it (and others) by Tim Ellis. Sisters in Crime has that Riders on the Storm feel. They’re all great listening.
Collins says she has a hard time labeling the genre. It’s a lotta country, a little blusey, folky and some fundamental rock. Her bio states that she’s been playing out for twenty years. She’s currently based in Portland and the rest of the country is clearly missing out!"
Cheryl Bruedigam
www.womensrising.com
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Click on the cover below to link to CD Baby where you can hear tracks and purchase Austin to Boston.
Reina’s Bio:
Roots rockin’ songstress Reina G. Collins has sung for her supper for the past twenty years. She spent her first thirty years in sunny, salty Florida. Born in Miami. Grew up in central Florida. Lived most of the 80’s in St. Petersburg. She played in pop rock band Multi Color House and then changed direction toward jazz and Brazilian music with pianist composer Kamau Kenyatta.
She crisscrossed the continent a couple times on solo road trips. Landed in San Diego and then up to Los Angeles in the early 90’s. She got to know the Rocky Mountain region while touring for a year with a shit kickin’ country rock band led by guitar-man-with-a-heart-of-gold, Billy Farmer.
Reina’s rambling led her to Teton Valley, Idaho -- her home from 1996-2005. There she established Driggs’ first retail music shop, Big Hole Music and was fortunate to become part of a community of fine musicians and artists, first rate partiers and dedicated outdoor enthusiasts. Those years were spent playing music with notables such as Greg Creamer, Jeff Newsom, Ben Winship, Ted Wells, David Bundy, Marshall Davis, Jerry Linn, Michael Hurwitz ....
In 2003 singer songwriter mandolinist Ben Winship assisted Reina in making her roots folk cd Kitchen Sink. Check out Ben’s site sometime at www.benwinship.com.
Following her fall 2005 relocation to Portland Reina had the good fortune to cross paths with songwriter Rob Barteletti. With producer guitarist Terry Robb, they joined forces to record Even If I Fall at Dennis Carter’s Falcon Studios. Tony Furtado, Terry Robb and other Portland players provide first class musicianship on this collection of witty, poignant, dark, and yes, even catchy roots country tunes. (See reviews below)
You may have just recently learned about Reina but for two decades she’s been playing honky tonks, bike rallies, five star restaurants, ski resorts, casinos, weddings, community fundraisers, music festivals and any local bar that’ll have her!
These days she and her musical partner/guitarist Hal Gerard perform frequently as an acoustic duo. Also, Reina, Paula Sinclair and Kate Mann have recently joined as the trio "Sisters in Crime." There’s lots in store for 2008 so be on the look out!!
Please click on either cover to link to CD Baby and hear tracks.
REVIEWS FOR EVEN IF I FALL--
I’m not often a sit-still-and-be-reflective person – wish I was. But this CD makes me want to relax in a rocking chair (on some tunes I might be dancing in my mind), drink a glass of iced tea with lemon, and gaze across a country lake. It’s that rustic, crisp, and refreshing.
The vibrant title track of Even If I Fall grabbed me right away. Tony Furtado’s blissful dobro run gives way to Reina Collins’ rich voice. Nick Peets adds some campfire-smoky backing vocals on the chorus, as he does throughout the disc. Next, “Yonder Ship” is an upbeat narrative like a good Dolly Parton song. Reina’s sings like a woman who has earned life’s wisdom, and Furtado fires off another nifty dobro solo.
“Blue Sky” is one of Reina’s compositions, and it’s roadhouse-worthy. Terry Robb shreds on slide guitar, and Reina belts it out like she’s stalking the stage on a Saturday night. Later on the album, the driving “Big Ol’ House” would work even better if Reina cut loose (this one kind of reminds me of one of my guilty pleasures, Cher’s “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.”)
On the other end of the vocal spectrum, she achingly sings the lines of “Honky-Tonk Band” in a way that is both vulnerable and knowing. It’s another roadhouse-worthy number, but in a cry-in-your-beer way, especially after you hear Bob Baker’s wailing fiddle.
I appreciate how Reina and songwriter Rob Barteletti (he penned 10 of the 15 tracks) steers clear of cliché even as he writes about common country/folk themes in numbers such as “Honky Tonk Band” and the catchy “Something Blue.”
On the beautifully simple “Too Costly Is Nothing.” Reina’s vocal is touching and sincere, and Nancy Ives contributes understated and moving cello playing. The hopeful “Whole New Way” is another pretty number, embellished by flourishes of piano (Peter Boe) and harmonica (Bart Ferguson).
Reina’s voice, sultry voice is such a powerful presence on the album, and “House on Fire” is one of her most emotional vocal performances. It especially hits home as I write this in the midst of our Florida drought. Paul Hirschman (who plays guitar throughout the CD) contributes tasty mandolin.
The sincere, earthy Even If I Fall is hook-filled folk rock – more folk than rock, with a nice dose of twang that adds to its considerable charm.
Chip Withrow - Muse’s News (May 2, 2007)
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"Apparently it’s written in the stars that Reina G. Collins and Rob Barteletti somehow would meet, somewhere on this earth. Not world-shaking, but for music lovers their meeting is a gift from heaven. This fine gift bears the title "Even If I Fall" and it is the brilliant result of two class artists... Barteletti provides most of the song-writing for their venture and Collins does what she’s always done: sing like a nightingale. The title number by itself justifies the purchase of this disc, but little pearls like "Cain’s Lament," "Yonder Ship," "Honky-Tonk Band," "Too Costly is Nothing," and "Something Blue" reach unquestionably the same level. And that the bar remains high is thanks to the willing and impressive help from Tony Furtado, Terry Robb, Paul Hirschmann, Jeff Minnick, Bob Baker, Rob Busey, Nick Peets, and Bart Ferguson. Lovers of original Americana-roots-country-folkrock-newgrass, fine storytelling songs, and heavenly singing are hereby notified: Mandatory purchase! 4.5 stars out of 5" (an excerpt translated by Steve Young)
Belgian roots music website - "Rootstime" (Jan 10, 2007)