American bassist, educator, and composer
Musical artist
Rufus Reid (born February 10, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer.[1]
Biography
Reid was raised in Sacramento, California, where he played the trumpet through junior high and high school. Upon graduation from Sacramento High School, he entered the United States Air Force as a trumpet player. During that period he began to be seriously interested in the bass.
After fulfilling his duties in the military, Rufus had decided he wanted to pursue a career as a professional bassist. He moved to Seattle, Washington, where he began serious study with James Harnett of the Seattle Symphony. He continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied with Warren Benfield and principal bassist, Joseph Guastefeste, both of the Chicago Symphony. He graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Music Degree as a Performance Major on the Double Bass.
Rufus Reid's major professional career began in Chicago and continues since 1976 in New York City. Playing with hundreds of the world's greatest musicians, he is famously the bassist that saxophonist Dexter Gordon chose when he returned to the states from his decade-long exile in Denmark. His colleagues include Thad Jones, Nancy Wilson, Eddie Harris, and Bob Berg.
Reid has been a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey.[2][1]
Discography
As leader
- Terrestrial Dance Rufus Reid Trio w/SIRIUS QUARTET ( Newvelle Records - Vinyl only)
- Quiet Pride - The Elizabeth Catlett Project ( Motéma Music )
- Hues of a Different Blue (Motéma)
- Out Front (Motéma)
- Live at the Kennedy Center (Motéma)
- The Gait Keeper (Sunnyside)
- Perpetual Stroll (Theresa)
- Seven Minds (Sunnyside)
- Corridor To The Limits (Sunnyside)
- Mirth Song, with Harold Danko (Sunnyside)
- Double Bass Delights, with Michael Moore (Double-Time)
- Intimacy of the Bass, with Michael Moore (Double-Time)
- Song for Luis, with Ron Jackson (Mastermix)
- Alone Together, with Peter Ind (Wave)
- It's the Nights I Like, with Sullivan Fortner (Sunnyside Communications)
As TanaReid
With Akira Tana
- Yours and Mine (Concord Jazz, 1991)
- Passing Thoughts (Concord Jazz, 1992)
- Blue Motion (Paddle Wheel, 1993)
- Rumour with Charles Licata Rumour (Charles Publishing, 1995)
- Looking Forward (Evidence, 1995)
- Back to Front (Evidence, 1998)
As sideman
With Kenny Barron
With Jane Ira Bloom
With Kenny Burrell
With Donald Byrd
With George Cables
With Art Farmer
With Ricky Ford
With Frank Foster and Frank Wess
With Stan Getz
With Dexter Gordon
With Eddie Harris
With Andrew Hill
With J. J. Johnson
- Quintergy (1988)
- Standards (1988)
- Let's Hang Out (1992)
- The Brass Orchestra (1996)
- Heroes (1998)
With Lee Konitz
With Rob Schneiderman
With The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra
With others
- Roni Ben-Hur, Fortuna (2008)
- Jack DeJohnette, Album Album (ECM, 1984)
- Dan Faulk, Focusing In (Criss Cross Jazz, 1992)
- Benny Golson, Benny Golson Quartet (LRC Ltd. 1990)
- Barry Harris, For the Moment (Uptown, 1985)
- Jimmy Heath, New Picture (Landmark, 1985)
- Bobby Hutcherson, Cruisin' the 'Bird (Landmark, 1988)
- The Jazztet, Nostalgia (Baystate, 1983)
- Etta Jones, My Mother's Eyes (Muse, 1977)
- Frank Kimbrough, Monk's Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk (Sunnyside, 2018)
- Kirk Lightsey, From Kirk to Nat (Criss Cross Jazz, 1991)
- Maulawi, Maulawi (Strata)
- Billy Mitchell, De Lawd's Blues (Xanadu, 1980)
- Tete Montoliu, A Spanish Treasure (Concord Jazz, 1991)
- Ralph Moore, Round Trip (Reservoir, 1985 [1987])
- Joe Newman and Joe Wilder, Hangin' Out (Concord Jazz, 1984)
- Claudio Roditi, Claudio! (Uptown, 1985)
- Michel Sardaby, Going Places (Sound Hills, 1989)
- Jack Sheldon, Playing for Change (Uptown, 1986 [1997])
- John Stubblefield, Confessin' (Soul Note, 1984)
- Jon Irabagon, The Observer (2009)
- Geoff Keezer, Waiting In The Wings (Sunnyside, 1989)
