Eric Reed (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric Reed, (b. June 21, 1970), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American jazz pianist and composer.

Eric Reed Quartet
Eric Reed and the Eric Reed Quartet at Dizzy's Coca-Cola Club, June 18, 2007. Photograph by Rafael Shimunov.

Eric began playing piano at age two, was playing piano in his minister father’s church by age five, and at age seven began formal study at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School. At age 11 his family moved to Los Angeles, and he studied at the R. D. Colburn School of Arts. In May 1986 at Colburn School Eric met Wynton Marsalis, an encounter that would greatly aid his career. At age 18 during a year of college at California State University, Northridge, Eric briefly toured with Marsalis. He joined Marsalis’ septet a year later, and worked with him from 1990 –1991 (from 1991 – 1992 he worked with Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard), and again from 1992 – 1995. He later worked with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for two years (1996 – 1998), and ventured out as a leader of his own group in 1999.

In addition to his work with Marsalis, Eric has worked with jazz luminaries such as Irvin Mayfield, Cassandra Wilson, Mary Stallings, Clark Terry, Dianne Reeves, Elvin Jones, Ron Carter, Paula West and Benny Carter.

Eric has also worked as a composer, scoring music for independent and mainstream films, including the comedy 'Life', featuring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.

Three of his albums have charted on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart: 1995's The Swing and I (peak #22), 1998's Pure Imagination (peak #8), and 1999's Manhattan Melodies (peak #21).^[1]