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Charlie Rees

Charlie Rees is a British saxophonist and composer-arranger based in Southwest Germany. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, his broad range of skills have seen him build an impressive resume in his young career so far. He has performed alongside internationally renowned artists Richie Beirach, Adam Nussbaum, Alex Sipiagin, Jeff Williams, and the Sirius String Quartet. He regularly collaborates with Russian pianist Regina Litvinova, performing as a duo and in other configurations, and describes his playing as “heavily influenced” by John Coltrane and the post-Coltrane generation of saxophonists.

In addition to his feats as a player, Charlie is an experienced arranger working in multiple genres. He contributed string arrangements to Beverley Craven, Judie Tzuke, and Julia Fordham’s nationwide UK tour, Woman to Woman, in 2018/2019, and his big band arrangements were performed frequently by the London Jazz Orchestra between 2022 and 2024. More recently, he was named the winner of the 2025 Eddie Harvey Jazz Arranger Award by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Upcoming projects include the release of Hidden Vision by Martin Speake’s newly formed big band, an album featuring Charlie’s arrangements of Speake’s compositions.

He is also well regarded within the jazz community for his work in music journalism. He has contributed over 100 articles to UKJazz News since 2021 as the publication’s Assistant Editor. Notable work includes an acclaimed five-part series on the life of saxophonist Steve Grossman, a three-part series in memory of his late mentor Richie Beirach, as well as interviews with Chuck Israels, Christian McBride, Bob Mintzer and more.

Awards

Eddie Harvey Jazz Arranger Award 2025

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Charlie Rees is a talented jazz sax player and an excellent composer-arranger. When I met him, I was immediately impressed with his maturity and talent. For a young man, he has an amazing amount of skills already developed at a high level. His sax playing is very strong and expressive, especially on tenor sax, which I think is his true voice. His arrangements are creative, fresh and happening – I know because he has already arranged a few of my compositions! He is also an excellent journalist and is assistant editor of UKJazz News. The interviews, reviews and special pieces he has already published shine a light on the jazz scene and its prominent people in today’s world of jazz music. He is bright and kind and a guy easy to like. Recommended without reservation !! –Richie Beirach