Album: Rufus Reid Quintet: Live at the Kennedy Center /  10 tracks /  Available Now/  Motema

The first thing that you notice about the Rufus Reid Quintet Live at the Kennedy Center CD is the quality of the music. It is recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound and is beautifully engineered and mixed. The performance was recorded on October 13, 2006 and is primarily comprised of original Reid compositions.

We have Rich Perry to thank for the great straight up sax solo on “When She Smiles Upon Your Face,” which is followed by a lovely piano solo by Sumi Tonooka. In fact, Tonooka’s elegance on the keys was one of the highlights for me while listening to this concert. With Reid’s plodding bass building the foundation, the horns protest over the top of the other instruments, lift you up and sweep you away.

Reid who played the double bass with the likes of Dexter Gordon, Nancy Wilson, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few is also a prolific composer as evidenced on this glorious album. The arrangements are lush, and while they allow for individual musicians to shine through their soloing, the real strength of this recording is in their collective sound.

There is also variety on the CD including Freddie Hendrix’s warm mellow trumpet melody from “Dreamgliding,” which eventually gives way to Tonooka’s piano chops that transition into a gentle swing. Tim Horner, whose drumming is smooth throughout the concert, now takes a more subdued approach with his drums however, the cymbals are more noticeable.

Standing in contrast to “Dreamgliding,” is “Forever On My Mind,” a song with a quicker tempo and a trumpet that proclaims the opening bars of the piece.

Reid’s bass is more vulnerable and exposed in Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady,” and the suggestion is a more contemplative demeanor.

The CD comes with a companion DVD featuring footage from the concert and the Kennedy Center and interviews.

Click here for printer friendly article

Reviewed August 2007