Rufus Reid

This trio invites Steve Allee and Duduka Da Fonseca to share the spot light, their music and exception chemistry on stage with Rufus. Their maturity, sensitivity and ability to feel and hear what each is playing puts them in synch with one another as they complete the other's thoughts in their musical conversation.

The Rufus Reid Quintet is a fresh voice that illustrates the breadth of his experiences with a new musical vehicle. The music encompasses eloquent renditions of selected, but often overlooked American Songbook standards and jazz standards; plus exciting original compositions. The audience will be taken on a delightful musical outing that will surprise and satisfy.

This is an ensemble of piano, bass, and drums with trumpet and tenor saxophone. It encompasses three generations that combine the styles and experiences that bridge from the infectious hard swinging bebop to lush sensuous ballads. Rufus is focusing on a specific sound with specific individuals. Presentation under his leadership has been heralded by his peers as well as the press. The listener will find their listening experience with the Rufus Reid Quintet no exception.

Soloist
Rufus has always enjoyed doing solo concerts. Through the years he has honed his ability to please the audience.

Rufus Reid Quintet plus Four, performing "Linear Surroundings"
This is an extended work utilizing my Jazz Quintet while adding four additional voices. The four voices chosen have been my favorite instruments because of their rich sonorities, the French horn, bass clarinet, cello and female voice.

The challenge of this composition was to orchestrate with all of these instruments. In the typical genre, this instrumentation does not exist, hence the challenge. I wanted to showcase each instrument with me (the double bass) and also develop them into a unified sound and still allow each player to make some creative choices through improvisation.

Guest Conductor
Rufus has enjoyed the opportunity to be guest conductor for many All-State High School Festivals. In January, the 2005 MMEA Central District Senior High School Festival invited Rufus to conduct their Jazz Ensemble. In February he conducted the 2005 New Hampshire Jazz All State Honors Jazz Band. Rufus finds great joy teaching these talented young musicians.

Guest Soloist
Rufus has many charts that have been arranged to perform with big bands. They vary in degree of difficulty. The compositions or arrangements will challenge and stretch the ensemble and yet be accessible and do-able.

2009 Siena Jazz Foundazione - International Jazz Master Program, Siena, Italy

Unika Accademia dello Spettacolo - Laboratori Jazz, Bari, Italy

Richard Davis Young Bassist Foundation, Madison, WI

Recent years have found Rufus devoting as much time as he can spare from his schedule of performing and teaching to composing. He has discovered a great joy and fine ability for the composing process. Participation in the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop, for five years, has gave him the impetus and the empowerment to dig deep into this new exciting world. True confirmation came with being named a 2008 Guggenheim Fellow in the field of composition.

The Raymond and Beverly Sackler music composition prize, sponsored by the Univeristy of Connecticut for 2006 was awarded to Rufus Reid for his work "Quiet Pride" inspired by the sculptures of Elizabeth Catlett.

Rufus was awarded the IAJE/ASCAP Commissions Honoring Billy Strayhorn. His composition, "Hues Of A Different Blue" was premiered at in January 2007 at IAJE.

The BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop awarded Rufus the first Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Award for his piece, "Skies Over Emilia," in 2000. Now his big band charts are being performed around the world. You can hear his Quintet compositions on his latest recorded release, "The Gait Keeper" by Sunnyside. Iolani School in Hawaii performed his string orchestra composition.

Rufus' composition, "Linear Surroundings," performed twice in 2004, three times in 2006, and again in 2008 was created with generous support from Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation and Presentation Program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

He has enjoyed "An Evening with the Music of Rufus Reid" at many Universities across the country.