Today, Rufus Reid combines his love of teaching with his love of composition.  He now culminates his University Residencies with a concert of his music.  He has music for Big Bands, Small Groups, and Bass Ensembles.  Rufus will work with the students, doing workshops and rehearsing small groups, big bands and bass ensembles.  At the end of the week there is a concert with everyone performing.  He has been doing this for several years and finds the enrichment the students receive is truly rewarding.

Initially, Harold Danko, of The Eastman School of Music reached out to Rufus in 2006 to come for a week long Residency that would finish with a concert, performing only Reid’s music.  It was wildly successful.  Reid Conducted a live Internet connected interactive bass class that was shared with Peabody.  (Eastman School of Music has an ongoing relationship with Peabody Conservatory)  This was their first Master Class via Internet.  At a later date, Rufus visited Peabody for this same special Residency with Concert, and again did a live Internet Bass Master Class, this time interacting with Eastman School of Music.   Admittedly, this was a special event, but it showed Rufus how valuable the extra time spent with students truly can be.  And it proved that Reid’s music was accessible, interesting and fun for everyone, from performer to listener.

To Whom It May Concern:
Rufus Reid is the consummate musician.  It was an honor to have him in residency at the Eastman School of Music where we experienced his mastery in many facets.  The bass workshops were phenomenal and his compositions for both small and large ensembles were a both a revelation to me and an inspiration to the Eastman community.
Harold Danko
Chair, Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media
Eastman School of Music

To Whom It May Concern,
I had the great pleasure of presenting Rufus Reid in 2006 as a guest composer, and soloist with the Peabody Jazz Orchestra. It was a fantastic experience for the students to have Rufus In Residence for several days, playing with the bass players, rehearsing with small groups, working on his large ensemble music. It’s no surprise that Rufus’s music would swing hard, which it does, but it also provides a window into the mind and soul of one of the greatest bassists in the history of jazz. Both his small group, and his large ensemble writing are overflowing with beautiful themes and melodies, and are luxuriously steeped in elegant harmonic textures, and rich instrumental colors. I feel that Rufus Reid’s visit to Peabody supplied some of the greatest moments of my career here, and it all went so smoothly that I actually had time to sit and listen for once. It literally had something for everyone, and was a total win-win all the way around.
Thank you,

Michael Formanek
Peabody Jazz Orchestra, Director
1 E. Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD. 21202

August 24, 2007

Rufus Reid was recently the “Gomez Artist in Residence” at the University of North Texas. The One O’ Clock Lab Band performed his compositions for large jazz ensembles. His music is exactly what you would expect from a master musician.  His melodic lines are lyrical, and he is the master of wonderful unexpected harmonic surprises.  Rufus writes like he plays, and it can’t get much better than that.

Neil Slater
Director: One O’ Clock Lab Band
University of North Texas