Born in Kingston, Reece rose to prominence in the 1950s moving to London and later New York, where he played with jazz luminaries Art Blakey and Dexter Gordon. Reece's recordings on Blue Note as a bandleader, such as "Star Bright" and "Soundin' Off," showcased his inventive compositions and improvisational skills. He has also been known to step in on percussion, playing in the Jazz Messengers and Kenny Graham’s Afro-Cubists. His music found the sweet spot between bebop and hard bop, and he has remained active as a performer and recording artist right up to the early 2000s.