Quick Facts
Aquarius
Biography
Rufus Reid (born February 10, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer.
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.
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)
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
- Autumn in New York (Uptown, 1984)
- The Moment (Reservoir, 1991)
- Other Places (Verve, 1993)
- Spirit Song (Verve, 1999)
With Jane Ira Bloom
- Art and Aviation (Arabesque, 1992)
- The Nearness (Arabesque, 1996)
With Kenny Burrell
- Listen to the Dawn (Muse, 1980 [1983])
- Ellington a la Carte (Muse, 1983 [1993])
- A la Carte (Muse, 1983 [1985])
- Sunup to Sundown (Contemporary, 1991)
With Donald Byrd
- Harlem Blues (Landmark, 1987)
- A City Called Heaven (Landmark, 1991)
With George Cables
- Circle (Contemporary, 1979 [1985])
- A Letter to Dexter (Kind of Blue, 2006)
With Art Farmer
- Nostalgia (Baystate, 1983) with Benny Golson
- You Make Me Smile (Soul Note, 1984)
- Something to Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (Contemporary, 1987)
- Blame It on My Youth (Contemporary, 1988)
- Ph.D. (Contemporary, 1989)
With Ricky Ford
- Tenor for the Times (Muse, 1981)
- Shorter Ideas (Muse, 1984)
With Frank Foster and Frank Wess
- Two for the Blues (Pablo, 1984)
- Frankly Speaking (Concord, 1985)
With Stan Getz
- Anniversary! (EmArcy, 1987 [1989])
- Serenity (Emarcy, 1987 [1991])
With Dexter Gordon
- The Chase! (Prestige, 1970) with Gene Ammons
- Manhattan Symphonie (1978)
With Eddie Harris
- Instant Death (Atlantic, 1971)
- Eddie Harris Sings the Blues (Atlantic, 1972)
- Excursions (Atlantic, 1966–73)
- Is It In (Atlantic, 1973)
- I Need Some Money (Atlantic, 1974)
- Bad Luck Is All I Have (Atlantic, 1975)
With Andrew Hill
- Shades (1986)
- Eternal Spirit (1989)
With J. J. Johnson
- Quintergy (1988)
- Standards (1988)
- Let's Hang Out (1992)
- The Brass Orchestra (1996)
- Heroes (1998)
With Lee Konitz
- Figure & Spirit (Progressive, 1976)
- Ideal Scene (1986)
With Rob Schneiderman
- New Outlook (Reservoir, 1988)
- Smooth Sailing (Reservoir, 1990)
With The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra
- It Only Happens Every Time (1977)
- The Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet (Artists House, 1978)
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)
Books
- The Evolving Bassist (1974) (2nd edition: ISBN 978-0-9676015-0-2)
Contributions to education
- Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops
- Stanford Jazz Workshop
- The Lake Placid Institute
- Professor Emeritus, William Paterson University, Jazz Studies and Performance program (1979–1999)
- The "Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists" Annual Bass Conference
- The Sligo Jazz Project
- Bass Coalition Summer Workshop
Awards and honors
- 1997 Humanitarian Award, International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE)
- 1998 Jazz Educator Achievement Award, Bass Player
- 1999 Outstanding Educator, New Jersey Chapter of the IAJE
- 2001 Distinguished Achievement Award, International Society of Bassists
- 2005 Mellon Jazz Living Legacy Award, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
- 2006 Award, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Composition Competition, administered by University of Connecticut
- 2006 Fellowship, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
- 2006 ASCAP/IAJE Strayhorn Commission Recipient
- 2008 Guggenheim Fellowship, Creative Arts/Music Composition category
- Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Award ("Skies Over Emilia")