Giants of Jazz 23

Join us for what has become a legendary event in South Orange featuring the convergence of countless Jazz greats in an unforgettable evening of music. Celebrating one of today’s premiere bassists, Rufus Reid, this Jazz festival returns to the SOPAC stage for the first time since 2019.

Ticket info: $55-$65; student pricing: $25 (must present student ID when entering the theatre)

Performers

Bill Charlap
Russell Malone
Roberta Gambarini
TS Monk
Freddie Hendrix
Michael Rodriguez
Greg Gisbert
Mark Gross
Don Braden
Eric Alexander
Steve Carrington
Roxy Coss
Steve Davis
Jeb Patton
James Austin
Caelan Cardello
Roberta Piket
David Wong
Santi Debriano
Russell Hall
Chris Berger
Tommy Campbell
Evan Sherman
Chris Beck
Kenneth Salters
Martin Wind
Virginia Mayhew
Roseanna Vitro

Rufus Reid

Rufus Reid is one of the premiere bassists on the international Jazz scene.  He leads the Rufus Reid “Out Front” Trio with Steve Alle on piano and Duduka Da Fonsca on drums, as well as the Rufus Reid Quartet: “The Out Front” Trio with Yosvany Terry on saxophones. Finally, he brings The Big Band Sound of Rufus Reid to stage with many of his own compositions and  frequently performs from his Grammy-nominated CD Quite Pride – The Elizabeth Catlett Project.

Reid’s professional performing career began in Chicago and continues in New York.  Reid has performed with—or as he likes to say, “shared a moment of music with”—many Jazz greats including Booker Irving, Gene Ammons, Kenny Dorham, Dizzy Gillespie and many more. As a composer for symphony orchestras, Reid won the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for Composition in 2008 and has been awarded three MacDowell Colony Grants.

Additionally, Reid is an exceptional educator, who, together with Dr. Martin Krivin, created the Jazz Studies and Performance Bachelor of Music Program at William Paterson University. Reid has taught Jazz since 1971 and continues to give clinics at The Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops, The Stanford University Jazz Workshop, as well as master classes and residencies all over the world. His book The Evolving Bassist, originally published in 1974, continues to be recognized as the industry standard for bass playing, and the Millennium Edition was published in 2000.

Born in Atlanta, GA and raised in Sacramento, CA, Reid originally played the trumpet but switched to the bass after he left the Air Force.  He studied with James Harnett of the Seattle Symphony, and with Warren Benfield and principal bassist Joseph Guastefeste, both of the Chicago Symphony. Reid earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance on the Double Bass from Northwestern University.

SOPAC Member Discounts

$10 off tickets ($25 and up) for Benefactor, Impresario and Producer-level members ($900+)

$5 off tickets ($25 and up) for Advocate, Family, Ambassador and Champion-level members ($65-$500)

Covid-19 Precautions & Policies

Please know that SOPAC is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of our entire community and we thank you in advance for reviewing our Covid-19 Precautions & Policies when planning your visit.

Questions? Contact the SOPAC Box Office at
(973) 313-2787 or boxoffice@SOPACnow.org

If you or a member of your party needs assistance, please notify SOPAC at the time your tickets are purchased. The SOPAC Box Office can be reached at (973) 313-2787.