A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, celebrated jazz pianist Eric Reed (born June 21, 1970) began his music career as a child, performing at the Baptist church where his father served as minister, even before he took his first formal lessons at the age of 5. The family moved to California and it was there the young teenage Reed started gigging professionally. Reed joined Wynton Marsalis’s touring combo at the age of 20. He also played with Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson during these formative years. Settling in New York, Reed became a fixture in the city’s thriving jazz scene and recorded the 1993 album It’s All Right to Swing and 1994’s The Swing and I among others. In 1997 he had a top ten jazz album with Pure Imagination. In addition to playing with the Lincoln Jazz Center Orchestra, he worked closely with vocalists Mary Stallings and Paula West. He relocated to Los Angeles and leant his considerable skills to a number of gospel projects. In addition to his own composing career, Reed has interpreted the works of many greats who influenced him, most notably Thelonious Monk on a trilogy of albums (Blue Monk, The Dancing Monk, and The Baddest Monk).
