Quick Facts
Biography
Benny Reid is a jazz musician and saxophonist who records for the independent record label Concord Music Group on their Concord Records label. He has released two albums.
Early life
Reid grew up in Westfield, New Jersey in a musical household where he was exposed to a variety of styles. He often traveled to New York to hear musicians like Sonny Rollins and Phil Woods and occasionally participated in jams at the clubs Blue Note and Smalls.
An early mentor was Buddy Rich’s alto saxophonist Andy Fusco, and Reid began writing music when he was 14. His musical interests ran the gamut from the brass-infused pop band Chicago to Michael Jackson, with guitarist Pat Metheny becoming his biggest influence during his college years.
Reid is a graduate of the music program at Indiana University where he studied under Tom Walsh and David Baker. During college breaks, Reid continued to network and perform in NYC. He has studied with Eric Alexander, Chris Potter, Steve Wilson, Dick Oatts, Michael Weiss and Ron Blake. Upon graduation from Indiana University, Reid moved to NYC to pursue a career in jazz, starting his own band in 2002. He released his first album Findings in 2003.
Reid has performed with such luminaries as Winard Harper, Eric Reed, Toshiko Akiyoshi Band, Chico O' Farill Band, Buddy Rich Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Big Band, Jimmy Dorsey Big Band, Harry James Big Band, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Valli, The Temptations and others.
Albums
Benny's debut album Findings was released February 27, 2007, on Concord Records and includes six suite-like compositions inspired by his late sister, who died when he was 13.
On September 15, 2009, Benny released his second album through Concord Records entitled, Escaping Shadows. The album contains nine originals and a cover of Pat Metheny's “Always and Forever”. Reid recorded Escaping Shadows with his own group to build upon the rapport they developed while working on the road together for the past two years. Members of the group include guitarist Richard Padrón, wordless vocalist Jeff Taylor and percussionist Ryan Fitch, all of whom also played on Reid’s debut album Findings. In addition, Reid recruited pianist Pablo Vergara, bassist Daniel Loomis and drummer Kenny Grohowski to record the new album.