My 70th birthday was the best yet. “Quiet Pride – The Elizabeth Catlett Project” was released Feb 11, 2014. This project took two years to come together, but here it is, and I am totally blown away. Motema Music did a fabulous job with this project. Everyone worked hard, from the very first. Twenty musicians came together to play my music, and they all came with their “A” game for this project. It was unbelievable.
This is who this work was inspired by. Taken at the Community Folk Art Center in Syracuse where they displayed 73 pieces of her work: “Power and Pride: An Elizabeth Catlett Retrospective.”What I saw and heard was captured, and now is being seen and heard by others. Some key players in any recording: part if The Rhythm Section, Steve Allee, Rufus, and Herlin Riley; The Conductor, Dennis Mackrel; The Producer, Akira TanaI want to give you a quick picture of the rehearsal. Vic Juris, Steve Allee, Rufus, Herlin RileyWhat was that again, Rufus??Carl Maraghi, Steve Wilson, Erika von Kleist, Vic JurisDoes Rufus love the sound of the trombone? Rufus with Dave TaylorDennis Mackrel, Steve Allee, and Tim HagansIngrid JensenSteve Allee, Freddie Hendrix, Vic JurisJason Jackson, Michael Dease, Ryan Keberle, trombones; Tom Chirstensen, Steve Wilson, Erika von Kleist, Scott Robinson, reeds; Rufus and Dennis Mackrel standingTim Hagans and Tanya Darby with RufusDennis Mackrel clearing up questions?Tim Hagans, Ryan Keberle, Dave TaylorRufus, Akira Tana, Herlin RileyTim Hagans with Rufus
I have been getting reviews already, and I am stunned. Dave Sumner, the AllAboutJazz Download of the Day editor of eMusic wrote: “Rufus Reid has created an expansive large ensemble vision that breathes with all kind of tiny details within the scope of its big sound.”
