Pianist, Composer, Producer, Educator, Director, and Arranger Eric Reed, heads a talented quartet with Saxophonist Chris Lewis, Bassist Mike Gurrola, and Drummer Kevin Kanner to perform an evening of great jazz music. Pianist Eric Reed is a consummate artist who has followed the sounds of many great musicians like Bobby Timmons, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Doug Watkins, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Ramsey Lewis, Eldee Young, Red Holt, Dave Brubeck, Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Paul Desmond, James Cleveland, Edwin and Walter Hawkins, Marvin Gaye, Raymond Leventhal, Andre Watts, the Beatles, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Fred Waring, Andrae Crouch, Ahmad Jamal, Thelonious Monk, Richard Smallwood, Billy Taylor, and Stevie Wonder. Eric has worked with many great artists like Freddie Hubbard, Buster Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Horace Silver, Harold Battiste Jr., Billy Higgins, Ernie Andrews, Teddy Edwards, Benny Carter, Gerald Wilson, Gerald Clayton, John Clayton, The Clayton Brothers, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Clora Bryant, Buddy Collette, Paula West, Mary Stallings, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Robert Stewart, Irvin Mayfield, Cassandra Wilson, Clark Terry, Diane Reeves, Elvin Jones, Ron Carter, and Christian McBride among others.
Reed has recorded 27 CD’s as a leader, and 8 as a sideman. As a leader, Eric plays with great integrity, flowing fresh ideas with virtuosity, expressing intellectual clarity and a steady groove. Always intensely focused, Eric performs a wide range of musical styles, stressing the importance of relating to the musical giants of the past, sharing it’s music in a modern, contemporary context. Reed has taught at The Julliard School of Music, The New School, and The Manhattan School of Music, and considers his greatest education to be on the bandstand Playing since the age of 2, Eric first studied at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School, and later at L.A.’s Colburn School of Arts. Reed grew up in Gospel music, studied Classical music, and performed jazz as a session player. Eric Reed has nearly 350 music credits over a 30 year career.
Saxophonist, composer, and educator, Chris Lewis was born in N.Y. and grew up in Pennsylvania. Chris started the sax at the age of 9, and received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Temple University. Chris has studied with Dick Oatts, Terrell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Ben Schacter, John Swana, and Tim Green. Chris grew up playing music in the Church and in School, and has worked with Delfeayo Marsalis, Carl Allen, Rodney Green, Jeremy Pelt, and performed in numerous jazz festivals. Chris studies and performs in masters classes under the direction of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, at U.C.L.A.’s Herb Alpert School of Music, and is constantly performing with many of L.A.’s best jazz musicians.
Bassist Mike Gurrola has been inspired by the great Jazz Bass Legacy of Ray Brown. Mike has been mentored by Grammy award winning bassist John Clayton, and in high school was the first recipient of the Ray Brown Scholarship from the LACHSAS.
Mike has also studied art The Colburn School of Music in L.A. Mike has worked with Jeff Hamilton, Benny Green, Ralph Moore,
Willie Jones III, Roy McCurdy, and many of the best L.A. and N.Y. jazz musicians. Gurrola plays with strength and humility, and swings and grooves with creative ideas that support the music with harmonic and melodic respect. Gurrola plays the bass with ease and has won awards at The Berklee College of Music, The Monterey Jazz Festival, and has played at The Kennedy Center.
Drummer Kevin Kanner plays straight ahead jazz with passionate swing, inspired by drummers Philly Joe Jones, Mickey Roker, Shelly Manne and Jeff Hamilton. Kevin has worked with John Pizzarelli, Willie Smith III, Terrell Stafford, John Clayton, Maureen Mc Govern, The Clayton Brothers, Gerald Clayton, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Larry Goldings, Charles McPherson, Benny Green, Robert Hurst, Peter Washington, Russell Malone, Stefon Harris, Johnny Mandel, Larry Koonse, Mary Stallings, Bill Henderson, Anat Cohen, Dominic Faranacci, Carolyn Leonhart, Anthony Wilson, Lawrence Hobgood, Joe Magnarelli, Helen Sung, Monty Alexander, Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Patrick Cornelius, Randy Napilton, James Morrison, and many more. Kanner has recorded with Paul Anna, Bill Holman, Gilbert Castellanos, Mellisa Morgan, Anne Sellick, Gail Winters, Bud Shank, Josh Nelson, Michael Buble, and has been an active musician on the L.A. music scene for several years. Kevin helped lead the popular Mint jazz jam sessions in L.A.
