Rufus Reid (b. February 10, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.[1]

Rufus Reid was raised in Sacramento, California where he played the trumpet through junior high and high school. Upon graduation from Sacramento High School, he entered the United States Air Force as a trumpet player. During that period he began to be seriously interested in the bass.

After fulfilling his duties in the military, Rufus had decided he wanted to pursue a career as a professional bassist. He moved to Seattle, Washington, where he began serious study with James Harnett of the Seattle Symphony. He continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied with Warren Benfield and principal bassist, Joseph Guastefeste, both of the Chicago Symphony. He graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Music Degree as a Performance Major on the Double Bass.

Rufus Reid's major professional career began in Chicago and continues since 1976 in New York City.

Books

* The Evolving Bassist(1974) (2nd Edition:ISBN 9780967601502)

Contributions to Education

* Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops
* Stanford Jazz Workshop
* The Lake Placid Institute
* William Paterson University, Jazz Studies and Performance program (1979-1999)
* The "Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists" Annual Bass Conference
* The Sligo Jazz Project

Recognition/Awards

* Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Award ("Skies Over Emilia")
* 2006 Fellowship, from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
* The 2005 Mellon Jazz 2005 Living Legacy Award, from The MidAtlantic Arts Foundation
* The Distinguished Achievement Award, 2001, The International Society of Bassists
* Outstanding Educator of 1999, The New Jersey Chapter of the IAJE
* Humanitarian Award, 1997, The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE)
* 1998 Jazz Educator Achievement Award, BASS PLAYER magazine
* Raymond and Beverly Sackler Composition Competition 2006 Award Winner, administered by the University of Connecticut
* 2006 ASCAP/IAJE Billy Strayhorn Commission Recipient