It was with great sadness that we announced on Friday Dec 20th, 2024, the death of our dear friend, Oxo Cubans (NZ) founder, bass player and mentor, Craig Reeves, from cancer. To explain what Craig has done in support of fellow musicians, up and coming artists and the impact he has had in the music industry throughout his life, both here, Australia and overseas can't be fully acknowledged here. Needless to say his loyal friendship, professionalism and that warm smile will be sadly missed.
The Oxo Cubans ( NZ), will carry on with Craig’s blessing. He had always wanted the band to continue, and continue we will. Fellow bass player, and long time friend, Chris Hudson, will carry on from where Craig left off. Chris, who is our vintage, is a wonderful person and a fabulous bass player and will make the transition to being a full time Oxo, a seamless one. There will be a tribute concert to celebrate Craig’s life and legacy announced soon.
11th November, 2024 - LEGACY JAM
It was brilliant to play a set at the Dunedin Musicians Club, 50th Anniversary recently with these great guys. From left: Bass player Denis Gibbins, guitarist Barry McConnachie, guitarist David Picard, and yours truly. Missing is frontman singer and dear friend, Brian Seque. I haven’t played with David since The Rockdaddys band in the mid 90’s. Barry and I are old friends from school and both began our musical journeys back then. Denis is, of course, my songwriting and bass playing cohort from Mother Goose. Brian is of course from Cruze and ARGUS. At this show we played a mix of ARGUS classic rock songs. The lads are keen to play again so stand by for more info.
There’s been lots going on since I wrote my last post. As you can see around the site, the release of my first solo musical adventure, The Art of Not Looking Back, has dominated my life, but in a really good way. The process of writing and recording the EP has been such a learning experience that I have fully embraced and lapped up. I’ve learnt about trusting your instincts when it comes to writing and trying ideas. It’s also been a crash course in digital recording. If you get a chance to listen to it, please follow me on Bandcamp here at: Bandcamp
2024 -DRUM TUITION is now open.
Here we are! A new year and fresh opportunities. I hope you have all had a great Christmas break, wherever in the world you are. Mine was family oriented and restful - aside from some gardening work!
I’m thrilled to be back getting amongst my musical work. My drum teaching studio is now open, so if you are in Dunedin and are keen to get stuck into learning and playing drums, send me an email. Our band, Oxo Cubans, is already planning new shows for 2024, which is exciting!
My first solo album of instrumental chill music is powering along nicely. I’m now onto Track 7 and I’m still loving the creative challenge. Will keep you up to date as it’s release gets closer.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and a Happy New Year!
The last few days of 2023 is a good time to wrap up the year. Thank you to all my drum students who have continued their learning with me. You never fail to inspire me. And thank you too to all the people who have come to see me play whether that’s with the brilliant Oxo Cubans, or any of the other freelance gigs I’ve done. Thanks to those artists for having me.
The Oxo Cubans have had a bit of a quiet year, though the second half was busier. That being said, we have had a good year and we have an even bigger year planned in 2024, with some big shows on the calendar. Keep up to date with the EVENTS page on this site for all info on theatre shows and gigs. It’s high time we worked on some original music too so that’s also the horizon. Stay tuned. I love the Oxo Cubans!
NEW ALBUM
Now, as the year closes, I’m in the middle of recording an album of my own instrumental chill music. I’m on to track five and aim to have it completed by the end of January, 2024. A great way to kick off the new year. I’ll keep you posted on its release. I’ve not done anything like this before, but I am totally inspired and loving every minute of the process.
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday break and see you in 2024!
OXO CUBANS 2023 - Doug Wright, Craig Reeves, Marcel, David Harrison. I love this band!
The last few months have been a little quieter for the Oxo Cubans, our band. But we are never far away from more shows. We have a few theatre shows planned for next year, 2024, that includes our 30th Anniversary celebration concert. Standby for more info on that if you are in Dunedin. This is the longest running band I have been in, joining in 2004. Before that Mother Goose, at nine years was the longest band I’d been in, and I thought that was long. It’s amazing how we are still committed to staying together and doing more musically.
Shortly, the look of the band will change as Craig, our founder bass player, is slowly taking a back seat on the bass and moving to playing second keyboards, for health reasons. We’ve done this at few concerts already. Craig is a brilliant keyboard player and so is a wonderful complement to our keyboard player, Doug Wright. Therefore, there will be some changes in the bass playing department as we look to find that person who can perhaps become the Oxo’s regular player. We have and will continue to use Dunedin’s legendary bass player, great friend and awesome musician, John Dodd, when we can. So, the future is looking bright.
AART SMITH. Image courtesy guitarist on the night, Dave Coleclough, at soundcheck @ Erricks.
Recently, I played a show for Dunedin singer songwriter, Aart Smith at Dunedin’s newest venue, Erricks. I think this was my third show with him and I think it was our best so far. I’m not Aart’s permanent drummer but I do like to help him when I can. Aart has one album out for so far, Tall Stories), with another one in the can and will be released in 2024. The album called ‘ Calling Time’ was again produced by our mutual good friend, Murray Burns from Mi-Sex.
Also on the album are David Harrison and Doug Wright from the Oxo Cubans as well as me and John Dodd on bass as the rhythm section.
I’m hoping that Errick’s becomes a successful live music venue in Dunedin. God knows we need more. It has a good vibe and is a perfect place to see a band.
My Songwriting – Ricky Orbit. Pictured with my collaborator and great friend, bass player, Denis Gibbins.
Currently, we are on the launchpad. The engines are running and the crew is working hard at fine tuning a new bunch of songs. The booster rockets aren’t yet fired up, but when they are we’ll let you know so you can be prepared for the launch.
Really though, I have been recently going through a major push into songwriting. I can’t help it. Ideas seem to be coming to me regularly and I’m really happy about that. I’m also stoked hat my writing collaborator, Denis Gibbins, is on board with me. I’d be lost without his objectivity, his great ear for a production idea, or a sound, or a lick and a line. We are demoing our songs and like our previous music, there is a bit of everything being recorded. We have a rock instrumental, a pop song duet, and what one might call an album track.
Plus, I’m also revisiting old bits of ideas and older demos from long ago. It’s amazing what you can find when you go back and go through old demos. Some remain old and some seem as fresh as today. It’s important to record every idea, lick, line, melody, no matter how small or incomplete. My voice memo is full of 20 second clips of words, humming melodies, and singing at this imaginary riffs. To say I’m excited is an understatement. My target is too one day play them live in 2024. Just for the sheer fun and challenge of it.
Our Podcast has been online for a little while and has attracted some great reviews for which we are grateful for. It was my son, Harley, who suggested we do a podcast about my musical life. It’s been so much fun to do. There’s more episodes in the pipeline. The podcast is available on here on Spotify. We’d love to get your feedback.
May 1st Roundup
This pic taken at rehearsals with the brilliant, Chet O’Connell, beside me, and next to him guest guitarist and long serving Oxo member, the excellent John Meddings, who came back out of retirement especially to play the shows with us. Thanks John!
ARGUS in Dunedin February, 2023
ARGUS, 2022. From left Chris Davies, Peter Dickson, Brian Seque, Denis Gibbins, Marcel Rodeka
Gigs, Covid, Podcast
The band has been trying to rehearse once a week to keep the ball rolling and the wheels turning. Because of Covid I missed a few rehearsals but am now back and fit to carry on. Can't wait to get a regular run of gigs again. I miss playing and performing so much. It's what drives me.