TERENCE REIS

Originally from Maputo, Mozambique, Terence Reis grew up playing guitar in the idiosyncratic style of the local finger picking street musicians, which is remarkably similar to that of Mark Knopfler. He is a superb guitarist, but it was his voice that first attracted the attention of The Straits, which has elements of Knopfler while remaining unique to him.

THE STRAITS: www.thestraits.com
PRESS REVIEWS FOR THE STRAITS' AUTUMN 2011 TOUR
For many people one of the biggest bands not to have re- formed over recent years is Dire Straits. There is of course Mark Knopfler who does play a few songs from a quite wonderful catalogue but until former keyboard player Alan Clark took the plunge and formed "The Straits" the catalogue remained relatively untouched. The Straits are no tribute band however; with Alan Clark and fellow former member of Dire Straits, Chris White, The Straits are quite simply wonderful. With front man Terence Reis filling the very big shoes left by Mark Knopfler the band has a very big future ahead of them. The full line up in Liverpool tonight includes drummer Steve Ferrone, bassist Mickey Féat, multi instrumentalist Jamie Squire and in place of Phil Palmer guitarist Adam Phillips and this band seriously deliver the goods.

Starting with a major surprise in Private Investigations which I thought was a strange choice but to be honest this had the hair on the back of my neck standing up. The dynamics were incredible and I soon found myself smiling to myself. Rather like seeing one of my favourite bands again after a long layoff "The Straits" kept that smile on my face for the next 110 minutes. The band had their first standing ovation with Telegraph Road (the first of many) with some amazing playing and soloing from Terence Reis and from that moment on the highlights just kept coming, song after song the band just kept delivering the killer punch.

My personal favourites? Well Telegraph Road was just incredible as were Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love and Brothers in Arms. I have to also say that the band performed a couple of songs that did surprise me but in a really good way. I never thought I would hear Communiqué again or Iron Hand but Terence Reis once again delivered a great arrangement of Communiqué starting off as just a solo song with the various members joining in along the way including some tasteful slide guitar from Adam Phillips; absolutely fantastic.

The evening ended with an extended version of Sultans of Swing and then the encore followed with of course Money for Nothing and another surprise with Portobello Belle. The band has plans for next year including dates in Europe, America and even Australia. They have also assured us that they are going to come back and play the UK again so with that in mind I urge you to catch them next time they tour.

With this band I have to say there is every chance that this band could do incredible business and with Terence Reis they do have an incredible ace up the sleeve. Don't run away with the idea that it is a one man show however; all the members sound incredible and Alan Clark has put together an amazing band more than capable of delivering the classics and hopefully new material.
Never mind Love Over Gold. The Straits are PURE GOLD!

- John Kirkman (Classic Rock Radio)
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In the 80’s Dire Straits were by far one of the biggest bands on the planet. They were loved by people who just bought one album, adored by millions who had followed the band’s career and adulated and remembered for one particular song that had a cutting edge video, insanely brilliant riff attached to it and lyrics that resonated with an audience ready to throw off the shackles of the 1970‘s. Then it went quiet, the lead singer went solo and was recently on stage with Bob Dylan and it seemed that for fans of Dire Straits they would no longer here the blues rock orchestration and well thought lyrics again other than on radio or music television.

It may be a decade late but the music that captured the imagination of a generation, not less to say those that have continually bought one of the first available CDs to be released in Britain, finally made a welcome return to the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool and thrilled the fans again. The Straits, as they are now known, consist of several members of the fabled band but play with a conviction that had been sadly missing as Dire Straits seemed to go their separate ways.

From the creeping, prowling and almost sinister start of Private Investigations, the band, which included Dire Straits first keyboard player Alan Clark, Phil Palmer, the legendary Chris White, Steve Ferrone, Terence Reis, Mick Feat and the unmistakable talent of Jamie Squire, took the audience by the hand to when it seemed Dire Straits could do no wrong and even play tracks that would fit on one whole side of a record without making their fans turn off.

The group of session musicians and main stays from the days of Dire Straits played all the hits and much loved songs with a firmness and free flowing spirit that made the audience beg the question, where has this music been hiding. Amongst them were the seminal Telegraph Road, the haunting Romeo and Juliet, the delicate Your Latest Trick and the incredible Brothers in Arms. If ever there was a fan base that deserved to be entertained after so long of musical hunger then the Philharmonic couldn’t have played a bigger part than allowing The Straits to come and play these timeless and stunning pieces of musical works.

- Ian D. Hall (LS Media)
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If you closed your eyes at the Ipswich Regent on Thursday night it was easy to image you had been transported back 30 years in time. It was December 1980 that the theatre first reverberated to the unmistakable sound of Dire Straits, who continued to entertain audiences worldwide until 1995.

Such was the response to their performance after the band was initially put together for a charity concert in London, The Straits are now bringing back to life the original band's catalogue of music live on stage – and how. This is no tribute act as in the genial Alan Clark on keyboards, the splendid Chris White on saxophone and guitarist Phil Palmer, The Straits feature three members who played in Dire Straits. Finding a vocalist to not only replace the soft, gravelly tones of Mark Knopfler but also play guitar was an unenviable task, but in Mozambique-born Terence Reis, The Straits certainly struck gold.

From the haunting opening track Private Investigations, via the magnificent Telegraph Road, Walk of Life, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love, Communique and Brothers in Arms, The Straits captivated the audience. Sultans of Swing, inevitably, had the audience off their seats and rocking in the aisles and a richly-deserved standing ovation followed before an encore featuring Money for Nothing and Portobello Belle rounded off an unforgettable one-and-three-quarter hour set. Folk rock singer Jon Allen kicked-off proceedings with a 30-minute set on what was a truly memorable evening, enhanced by the fact that the band say they will keep playing as long as audiences wish to hear them. They should be around for a long time to come.

- Nick Garnham (Ipswich)
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After the success of last May’s sell-out gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall, The Straits embarked on a nine-date UK tour and, in Alan Clark, Chris White and Phil Palmer, the band boast three members of Dire Straits from their stadium days. Without Mark Knopfler, the spotlight fell on South African frontman Terence Reis, who took on the mantle of lead vocals and Knopfler’s guitar licks. Like Ricky Warwick in Thin Lizzy, Reis has big boots to step into and, like Warwick, carries it with aplomb. His guitar playing has a slight blues feeling and, on two occasions, the audience burst into spontaneous applause during his solos. The man must be doing something right. The evening was very much a greatest hits show, and those included everything from Sultans Of Swing to Romeo And Juliet, Brothers In Arms, to Tunnel Of Love, which is exactly what a packed Apollo had come to see. A great night.

- Noel Buckley (Record Collector - Live Reviews)
As the headline act emerges, a beautifully lit stage sets just the right atmosphere for a spine tingling Private Investigations, vocalist/guitarist Terrence Reis delivering a perfectly judged vocal during the lead in to this multi layered and darkly dramatic set piece, quickly establishing that both vocally and musically, he is capable of stepping into some very big shoes. The mood is quickly lightened by the party time boogie sounds of Walk of Life before the shear breadth of Telegraph Road paints an almost cinematographic picture, full of detailed subsections that blend together like a modern concerto and reminding me that this band are storytellers of the highest order. Some bands hate bootlegs, while others actively encourage their fan base to record and trade shows. Alan Clark made a point of inviting the audience to record and share the evening, a nice gesture towards a dedicated set of fans that have not lost touch with the band despite Mark Knopflers’ absence.

The first twang of steel guitar in Romeo & Juliet is met with impromptu applause from an audience that then hung on every line of this Shakespearian tragedy, Chris White's perfectly judged sax delivery segueing into the mid section of this extended version which closed with more wistful keys from Alan Clark, effortlessly drifting into personal favourite Tunnel of Love. Perhaps the two most descriptive lyrics in the set, I'm sure I was not alone in being transported back to days of young love and stolen kisses during an absolutely mesmerising quarter hour that will stay with me for a long time. The sound mix for the show was good with vocals prominently up front, weighty keyboards and the sax, especially on a slightly up tempo version of Your Latest Trick, feeling rich and thick. Guitar twangs hung heavy in the air like smoke rings in an opium den, and despite an annoying low buzz at times, only the occasionally boxy drum sound detracted from an excellent listening experience.

Following a break for band introductions, Brothers in Arms sent goose bumps flowing through City Hall, the lighting engineer again perfectly capturing the dramatic scale of what is correctly recognised as one of the greatest tracks of all time. Politely acknowledging Mark Knopflers’ part in writing the songs that made Dire Straits so popular, Reis thanked the audience for their continued support before launching into Sultans of Swing - which I vividly remember being my first exposure to the band during their memorable appearance on iconic television show The Old Grey Whistle Test and this resulting in a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. Inviting the audience to get out of their seats and come down to the front got a great response and the majority danced their way through Money for Nothing, which along with a superbly atmospheric Portobello Belle finally brought the curtain down on what had been a polished performance, proving beyond doubt that the Straits' songbook remains in anything but dire hands.

- Paul Sinclair (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
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