Rufus Reid


Rufus Reid 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 double 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 studied bass 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 directed the Jazz Studies program at William Paterson University from 1979 to 1999. After retiring from that position, he spent five years attending the weekly BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop in New York City. Reid has also served on the faculty of the biannual Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass, which moved to Montclair State University in 2024.
Reid has been a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey.
Reid's double bass is a Josef Rieger circa 1805.

Discography

As leader

  • Perpetual Stroll
  • Mirth Song, with Harold Danko
  • Too Marvelous for Words, with Joe Carter
  • Seven Minds
  • Corridor To The Limits
  • Song for Luis, with Ron Jackson
  • Double Bass Delights, with Michael Moore
  • Intimacy of the Bass, with Michael Moore
  • Alone Together, with Peter Ind
  • The Gait Keeper
  • Live at the Kennedy Center
  • Out Front
  • Hues of a Different Blue
  • Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project
  • Terrestrial Dance, Rufus Reid Trio with the Sirius Quartet
  • Always in the Moment, with Sullivan Fortner
  • Celebration, Rufus Reid Trio with the Sirius Quartet
  • It's the Nights I Like, with Sullivan Fortner

    As TanaReid

With Akira Tana
  • Yours and Mine
  • Passing Thoughts
  • Blue Motion
  • Rumour with Charles Licata Rumour
  • Looking Forward
  • ''Back to Front''

    As sideman

With Kenny Barron
  • Autumn in New York
  • The Moment
  • Other Places
  • Spirit Song
With Jane Ira Bloom
  • Art and Aviation
  • The Nearness
With Kenny Burrell
  • Listen to the Dawn
  • Ellington a la Carte
  • A la Carte
  • Sunup to Sundown
With Donald Byrd
  • Harlem Blues
  • A City Called Heaven
With George Cables
With Art Farmer
With Ricky Ford
  • Tenor for the Times
  • Shorter Ideas
With Frank Foster and Frank Wess
  • Two for the Blues
  • Frankly Speaking
With Stan Getz
  • Anniversary!
  • Serenity
With Dexter Gordon
With Eddie Harris
  • Instant Death
  • Eddie Harris Sings the Blues
  • Excursions
  • Is It In
  • I Need Some Money
  • Bad Luck Is All I Have
With Andrew Hill
  • Shades
  • Eternal Spirit
With J. J. Johnson
  • Quintergy
  • Standards
  • Let's Hang Out
  • The Brass Orchestra
  • Heroes
With Lee Konitz
  • Figure & Spirit
  • Ideal Scene
With Rob Schneiderman
  • New Outlook
  • Smooth Sailing
With The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra
  • It Only Happens Every Time
  • The Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet
With others