Reggie grew up in a rich musical environment – one that nourished artists as stylistically diverse as pianists Jason Moran and Robert Glasper and guitarist Mike Moreno (featured on Freedmantown along with pianist Gerald Clayton and saxophonist Tim Warfield). They all attended Houston’s High School of the Performing and Visual Arts, where the teachers, said Reggie, were “incredibly devoted. They gave us a real head start.”
After graduating high school he ventured to the East Coast, more specifically, the Mannes School of Music at New School University where he got to study with three great drummers: Jimmy Cobb, Lewis Nash, and Kenny Washington. After some time honing his chops on the scene he returned to school earning his Master’s in Jazz Studies at the prestigious Juilliard School.
Noted as a “conscientious jazz drummer with a nimble and approachable style” (Nate Chinen, New York Times) he has played with such leading artists as Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Greg Osby and Christian McBride. With saxophonist Marcus Strickland, he played and lectured as part of Lincoln Center’s Jazz in the Schools program and frequently collaborates with the talented vocalist and pianist Enoch Smith Jr. who also appeared on Quinerly’s first project. He has toured various countries in Europe and Asia.
As an educator he has presented masterclasses at Tulane University(New Orleans), The Cultural Arts Center of Galicia, Spain and since 2012 he has created and implemented music curriculum for several school districts throughout northern New Jersey. These music programs teach children teamwork through the fundamentals of rhythm, melody, harmony and songwriting. As of 2014 the program has been in partnership with the Little Kids Rock program and offers instruction in percussion, guitar, bass, piano and voice. He is a member of Percussive Arts Society and the New Jersey Education Association.