Hailing from London’s East End, Oli Lazarus spent three years of musical osmosis in Flying Records, a shop specialising in soulful dance music. After this grounding education and with very little song writing or studio experience under his belt, he produced Reel People’s debut single ‘Spiritual’. The entirely positive reception to his maiden voyage (plus a little help from production master Phil Asher and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Haines), helped spur him on to realise the lauded debut LP.

Mike Patto, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and arranger came on board in 2002 having previously worked with Restless Soul and collaborated with artists including Don E. Patto's father (also Michael) was a musical figure of note, as vocalist in renowned 60s jazz/rock fusion group Patto. The influence rubbed off on Mike (and Oli), as well as other artists who proved key in shaping the Reel People sound, including Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder plus other black music heroes such as Marvin Gaye and Gil Scott Heron.

The pair set to it and in 2003 ‘Second Guess’ was released on Oli’s Papa Records label. Filled with wonderful collaborations from artists such as Angela Johnson (Can’t Stop), Vanessa Freeman (The Light) and Dyanna Fearon (Butterflies), the album was greatly received and led to the band being signed to Columbia Records in Japan, where they remain hugely popular, even supporting Herbie Hancock at the Tokyo Jazz Festival. In February 2006 the album was re-released on dance independent Defected Records. To enhance the new version, the guys penned the club classic ‘The Rain’ and the uber cool cover of Thelma Houston’s ‘You Used To Hold Me So Tight’. Accompanying this was a bonus disc of live versions which really showed off how the band had developed over the 3 years of touring ‘Second Guess’.

Live, Reel People have stormed many auditoriums worldwide including week long stints at the famous Blue Note in Japan and Ronnie Scott’s in London. Other stand- out performances were delivered at The Southport Weekender, V Festival and T In The Park.

Reel People have come home to roost on Papa Records for their brand new offering ‘Seven Ways To Wonder’.

more information: (link coming soon)