Rufus Reid

Consummate jazz bassist and educator Rufus Reid is recognized for his emphatic, burly, yet understated style. He's at home on both driving post-bop albums and numerous standards session and studio dates. Emerging in the 1970s with Eddie Harris, Reid has played with such luminaries as Dexter Gordon, Thad Jones, J.J. Johnson, Art Farmer, and John Mayer. His own diverse recordings as a leader include 2003's quintet date The Gait Keeper and 2011's trio album Out Front. He most famously co-led the quartet Tana/Reid with drummer Akira Tana, issuing albums like 1991's Yours Mine, 1994's BlueMotion, and 1998's Back to Front. The author of the methodology book The Evolving Bass, Reid helped found the Jazz Studies and Performance Bachelor of Music Program at William Paterson University. Along with giving master classes, he continues to record, releasing 2014's Grammy-nominated Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project, 2017's Terrestrial Dance, and 2022's Celebration.